Security cameras, fences and new lights will be added to public housing complexes in an effort to fight crime.

U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Springfield, announced Wednesday that $400,000 in federal money would be used to start the project.

And Durbin renewed his request that the city make bars and liquor stores close earlier.

In the end, though, he acknowledged that it is up to city leaders to make it happen.

"It's our responsibility to make certain that federal property is safe for the people who live there. The violent crime in East St. Louis is almost four times the statewide average. It's more than twice the crime rate in Chicago. The club scene needs to be reigned in as quickly as possible. Mayor (Parks), we need you to do your part," Durbin said in a visit to East St. Louis.

"If the mayor will not accept our challenge to end the all night club scene and restrict late night liquor sales, we must do all we can to protect the families and children in federal housing from this shameful wave of violent crimes," Durbin said.

U.S. Marshal Don Slaznik has said all along that he also would like to see early closing times for the clubs and liquor stores.

"Closing the bars and liquor stores earlier would mean a 10 percent decrease in crimes," Slaznik said.

But Mayor Alvin Parks Jr. once again said he has no plans to change the hours bars are allowed to operate.

Parks said he appreciates the new money announced Wednesday to bring in new security measures, but, he said the bars are not causing crime in the city. He said the contributing factors are drugs, the wrong people with access to guns, and people carrying out vendettas against their enemies.

In August, Durbin said the city should make the bars close earlier.

"Take a look at the crime because of your decision. Innocent people are dying because of your decision," Durbin said last summer in reference to city leaders.

After Durbin first raised this issue, Parks did ban package liquor sales after 1 a.m.

The Orr-Weathers and Lansdown complexes will be the first two complexes to get the security upgrades.

"The people raising their families in the community deserve better, and we're going to do our part. We need the residents to work with us, too," Durbin said.

The East St. Louis Housing authority has been in receivership with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development since 1985. In January, HUD hired a security coordinator, Cortez Slack, to work with local law enforcement officials to monitor the new security cameras and increase security in the housing projects.

"Once the cameras are installed, the security coordinator, the police dispatcher and other law enforcement agencies will have full visual access to the six high-rise apartment buildings. By the end of the year, cameras will be installed in the John DeShields and John Robinson housing developments, Durbin said.

Durbin praised the Working Against Violent Elements unit for reducing violent crime in the city. He said the law enforcement detail has taken about 1,300 guns off the streets since it began working in East St. Louis.

U.S. Attorney Steve Wigginton assured residents that he was listening to their call for help and was doing everything he could to make the places where they live, safe, secure and sanitary.

"The residents have welcomed the U.S. Attorney's office with open arms," he said.

Twin sisters, Ethel Sylvester and Edna Mayes, both 84, said they were happy to see changes coming.

"I am blessed, glad and happy. I am tired of all of this violence," Mayes said. "We've got a good housing authority director, but she can't do everything. We need help."

Sylvester added: "I am happy, too. We do need this help."

St. Clair County State's Attorney Brendan Kelly said he has been focusing on violent crime rates in the housing projects. He told residents he is implementing a "ban and bar" program.

"It works in the St. Clair County Housing Authority," he said.

Kelly said residents who live in the housing complex will be given identification cards, and people who do not belong there will not be able to go there. Kelly said he also is implementing a program called "Neighborhood Ordinance of Protection."

"Special conditions will be placed on individuals who are out of prison on probation or bond. We will prohibit them from going into certain geographical areas," Kelly said.

The program is "designed to dislocate people from being in areas that have the propensity to be high crime areas," he said.