View Larger Map Tenants want security law enforced Wednesday, May 11, 2011 By KATE KOWSH JOURNAL STAFF WRITER An officer of the tenants association at a Jersey City senior citizens high-rise plans to appeal to City Council members tonight to enforce an existing law making 24-hour uniformed security mandatory in apartment buildings. Grandview Tenants Association Secretary William Dorrity said he will push for the legislation after an 84-year-old woman in the 285-unit building, at 3060 Kennedy Blvd., was robbed at knifepoint Sunday by a man who forced his way in after knocking on her second-floor door, posing as security. In a deal reached last year with tenants, the building's landlord agreed to have a uniformed security officer overnight, install cameras on each floor and issue swipe keys to tenants. Dorrity says it's not enough. "A camera won't stop people from coming in," he said from the building's lobby yesterday. "But a man will." Grandview security manager Lisa Carney declined to comment on Sunday's incident, saying"the management has handed over everything to the Police Department." A city law says that any building with more than 100 units must have uniformed security 24 hours a day, but tenants balked when they were told their rents would go up by roughly $59 per month if more security guards were hired. ======================= Jersey City woman, 84, is robbed at knifepoint in her room in senior citizens building Tuesday, May 10, 2011 An 84-year-old Jersey City woman was reportedly robbed at knifepoint Sunday in a senior citizens building where a tenant group has been vocal about a need for improved security. The woman, a second-floor resident of Grandview Terrace at Kennedy Boulevard and St. Paul's Avenue, told police that around 10:15 a.m. a man knocked on her door and said, "I'm security," reports said. When she opened the door a crack, the man pushed in and showed the woman a 12-inch knife before grabbing her by the neck and throwing her down on a bed, reports said. The robber took $300 from the victim's purse as well as Medicare and Social Security cards and other items, reports said. The robber was described as 40 to 50 years old and wearing a baseball cap, blue windpants with white stripes, white sneakers and a button-up short-sleeve T-shirt, reports said. In August, the owner of Grandview Terrace announced the installation of security cameras on each floor, new swipe keys for tenants and the posting of an overnight security guard. A group of residents complained the changes did not suffice. Management of the building could not be reached for comment last night. MICHAELANGELO CONTE