Battery Park City Authority & Allied Universal Named Platinum ‘ASTORS’ Award Winner for Best State Government Security Program
The Hugh L. Carey Battery Park City Authority is a New York State public benefit corporation, whose mission is to plan, create, coordinate and maintain a balanced community of commercial, residential, retail and park space within its designated 92-acre site on the lower west side of Manhattan.
Established in 1968, the Battery Park City Authority (BPCA) was created by the State of New York, and charged with developing and maintaining a well-balanced community on the lower west side of Manhattan, in place of where deteriorating piers once stood in the Hudson River.
Battery Park City has achieved worldwide acclaim as a model for community renewal.
Through a public/private partnership between BPCA and private developers, this planned community has become a blueprint for successful urban development.
With more than 36 acres of parks, 10 million square feet of commercial space, approximately 14,000 residents, four public schools, museums, and cultural institutions, Battery Park City is, indeed, a city within a city.
And as Battery Park City grew and became a destination and host to numerous special events and festivals, it became clear that its security posture had to grow with it.
Through a rigorous procurement process, BPCA sought a contract security partner that could step in to perform today’s tasks, but one that had the capacity to evolve as the program matured.
Some of the key requirements included an approach that not only provided security but also customer service.
As a community, Battery Park City has many stakeholders – from residents and business owners, to developers and public officials.
And the selected security partner had to be prepared to support BPC in meeting the expectations of those stakeholders.
Since December 2015 Allied Universal has filled that role ably.
Through its round-the-clock neighborhood patrols and fixed posts, as well as sustained and consistent community engagement, Allied Universal’s Ambassadors and Supervisors form a highly-visible and effective security team that not only enforces Battery Park City’s rules and regulations, but also helps create a safe and welcoming environment for the thousands of daily visitors and residents.
Today, through its continued close work with the local community and various local partners, including elected officials and the New York City Police Department, Battery Park City remains among the safest and most desirable neighborhoods across New York City’s five boroughs.
The 2017 ‘ASTORS’ Homeland Security Awards Program
The ‘ASTORS’ Awards were presented on Nov. 15 at the International Security Conference and Exhibition (ISC East), the northeast’s largest security industry event, in the Jacob Javits Exhibition Center in New York City.
Organizations honored at the event included providers of physical solutions, software, IT, law enforcement agencies, first responders and government agencies.
The event is organized by American Security Today, a publication that covers criminal and terrorist threats and the solutions that help combat them.
Over 100 distinguished guests from National, State and Local Governments, and Industry Leading Corporate Executives gathered from across North America and the Middle East to be honored from disciplines across the Security Industry in their respective fields which included:
- The Department of Homeland Security
- The Department of Justice
- The Security Exchange Commission
- State and Municipal Law Enforcement Agencies, and
- Leaders in Private Security
Recognized for their Innovative Training and Education Programs, Outstanding Product Development Achievements and Exciting New Technologies to address the growing Homeland Security Threats our Nation is facing.
American Security Today was formed after careful reflection of 9/11 and its aftermath when the Department of Homeland Security was established and there was an immediate explosion of new products and solutions for what was perceived as an imminent second attack on primary targets in the United States.
As time moved forward from 9/11 itself and in recent years, the threats to our nation have evolved from a large scale 9/11 type attack to:
- Domestic and International Terrorist Attacks carried out by ‘lone wolves’ and coordinated individuals
- Cybersecurity breach attacks against our government agencies, financial institutions and critical infrastructure facilities
- Unprecedented urban violence
- Cultural shifts and societal media bias, which make it increasingly difficult to secure our nation in this constantly evolving threat environment.
These current circumstances have put forward another rapid expansion of new ideas, products and solutions to combat these ever changing challenges.
These changes have called for a new generation of security experts in the Homeland Security and Public Safety fields who need real time knowledge of our ever growing threats.
These experts include the Government at the Federal, State and Local levels as well as from Private Firms specializing in Physical Security, Port Security, Law Enforcement, First Responders, Military and Private Security responsible for implementing coordinated security measures to ensure our Nation’s Security and improve Public Safety.
Together, each of these entities work together seamlessly on the front lines of protecting our communities, to ‘Keep our Nation Secure, One City at a Time.’
AST focuses on Homeland Security and Public Safety Breaking News, the Newest Initiatives and Hottest Technologies in Physical & IT Security, essential to meeting today’s growing security challenges.
To highlight the tremendous accomplishments of agencies and firms receiving this prestigious award, be on the the lookout for American Security Today’s Annual December ‘ASTORS’ Champions Edition – ‘Year in Review.’
“Battery Park City is a premier model of modern city living. An urban oasis, with parks, programs, and waterfront perspectives that offer residents and visitors an unrivaled experience of New York.”
“Congratulations to Battery Park City Authority and Allied Universal on your ‘ASTORS’ Platinum Homeland Security Award,” said Tammy Waitt, AST Editorial Director.
