Lame Duck Mayor Adams Extends Controversial Big Apple Connect Program
Outgoing Mayor Eric Adams has extended the controversial Big Apple Connect program, which provides free internet to 333,000 public housing residents. The move, criticized by Councilmember Chris Banks, allows the NYPD to link public housing cameras to its Domain Awareness System. The City Council is set to hold a hearing on the program the next day.
Adams, now a lame duck mayor, extended the program's contracts with Altice USA and Spectrum until June 2028. This decision has raised eyebrows, as it abandons former Mayor Bill de Blasio's Internet Master Plan, which proposed a city-owned fiber network. The extension will cost the next mayor approximately $114 million over three years.
Banks criticized Adams' move, stating that he is bypassing the City Council's authority by expanding the program before the scheduled hearing. The councilmember also raised concerns about the program's use for live video surveillance at NYCHA developments, with the NYPD's involvement remaining undisclosed.
The Big Apple Connect program's extension has sparked debate, with critics questioning the decision to continue with private contractors instead of exploring a city-owned fiber network. The financial implications and potential privacy concerns will be further discussed at the City Council's upcoming hearing.
