A city councilwoman is "very upset" that proposed security enhancements in Binghamton neighborhoods may not occur following student protests.

Binghamton Councilwoman Dani Cronce during a radio interview. (Photo: Bob Joseph/WNBF News)
Binghamton Councilwoman Dani Cronce during a radio interview. (Photo: Bob Joseph/WNBF News)
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Third District Democrat Dani Cronce said most of the "blue light" emergency phones and surveillance cameras were to be installed in her district. Binghamton University had planned to foot the bill for the project.

Speaking on WNBF Radio's Binghamton Now program, Cronce said an outreach effort that was conducted before the plan was announced.

An emergency telephone near the Binghamton University Downtown Center. (Photo: Bob Joseph/WNBF News)
A call box near the Binghamton University Downtown Center. (Photo: Bob Joseph/WNBF News)
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Some students held a sit-in at the administration building on the Vestal campus to call attention to their opposition to the proposal.

University officials said they would not proceed with the installation of the phones or cameras over the summer. They said the issue would be discussed further in the fall.

Cronce said she is angry that an effort that would have helped to make people in her district safer has been halted.

The councilwoman said the funding that would have been provided by the university was a gift. She said students who are members of the Roosevelt Institute helped to develop the initiative.

Cronce said call boxes are needed on the city's West Side to protect students. She said "we have people being jumped" and targeted for other crimes. She said the blue light phones would have provided a way to immediately contact police.

The lawmaker also said the presence of the call boxes and cameras would have helped to deter crime.

Cronce said she doesn't understand why others who supported the safety initiative are not speaking out about the decision not to go forward with the project.

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