A Boston city councilor said budget cuts are forcing the Boston Housing Authority to eliminate safety measures at some of the city's elderly-disabled public housing. 

City Councilor Chuck Turner said the 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. security guard shift is on the chopping block at 13 elderly-disabled housing establishments that currently have 24-hour security. The cuts would take place in September, said Turner, who filed an order for a public hearing to discuss alternative funding. 

According to Lydia Agro of the BHA, a total of 16 elderly-disabled housing developments will have upgraded security features to offset the lack of daytime security personnel by the time of the cuts. 

"The safety of our elderly and disabled residents is our primary concern not money," said Agro. "We believe the enhanced technology and security measures that we're implementing in place of the day time security guards will in fact make our residents much safer not less safe." 

"Cameras don't help you prevent crime, they just help you convict someone," said Turner. 

City housing: Security features

The three upgraded security features proposed by the BHA include: 
- Security cameras with feeds residents could watch in their apartments
- Electronic keycard entry systems
- Emergency pull-cord mechanisms in each unit that sends signals to BHA police dispatch