Comments on: Seattle Police surveillance cameras: Council committee to discuss Feb. 20

By: Rod

Rod — Sun, 17 Feb 2013 17:04:39 +0000

Just because you aren’t paranoid doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be.
Like I said in my previous comments earlier in the month “I am okay with police on the street but who is behind the cameras zeroing in on couples on the beach having a snuggle and a few kisses or your children playing on the beach. We know a police officer to see one and they know because they are visible to the public how to behave and what actions they can legally take. We don’t know who is watching us and our children through the camera lens.” Sound paranoid, maybe? Many times individuals with criminal intent have conned their way into places of trust to steal from or abuse the vulnerable. We need to know who the people are monitoring us and our children. Better still tag and monitor criminals instead of covertly spying on lawful citizens. Again and again those that commit crime have more freedom and protection than the victims of crime. Just being monitored makes us all victims of crime.
And while I’m at it there’s that 360 degree viewing that us going to be “disabled” until when?
These after the fact bandages are just political feel better see we’er going to listen to you now type of weak leadership propaganda that politicians use to deflect criticism after that fact when initially they kept the truth from their constituents. Make your elected officials more accountable for their actions. Vote them out next time around and make it known why. constituents. Make your elected officials more accountable for their actions. Vote them out next time around and make it known why.

By: JayDee

JayDee — Fri, 15 Feb 2013 05:17:12 +0000

As I have said before Gene, it is only paranoia if they aren’t trying to get you.

Just because the courts have determined that citizens have no expectation of privacy in public places doesn’t automatically mean that the government has a responsibility to photograph/film/face recognition them either. If the citizens do not support the idea/operation of camera surveillance 24/7 then the city council and the police department should not either. It is not a big deal. If you want to prevent crime, hire and deploy more police on foot, bike or worst, car. If you want to document a crime, take crappy pictures of it.

Courts can also reverse earlier rulings when opinion turns against the general idea of eternal surveillance.

By: Gene

Gene — Fri, 15 Feb 2013 02:37:29 +0000

Paranoia strikes deep– into your life it will creep!

By: WSB

WSB — Fri, 15 Feb 2013 00:52:05 +0000

Yes. It’s the regular meeting of the committee at City Hall downtown. There is usually a public-comment period for such meetings. I will be writing more about it tomorrow, am waiting to see the agenda.

By: cami

cami — Fri, 15 Feb 2013 00:38:46 +0000

Is this a public meeting?

By: Jim P.

Jim P. — Fri, 15 Feb 2013 00:16:09 +0000

An alert and informed citizenry is the best defense against government run amok.

If I want surveillance cameras watching my property, I will install them and I will control then.

I’m not (generally) a right wing-nut but it is not an issue of right vs. left to protect ourselves from the iron-clad tendency of any government agency to just keep growing and growing and doing more and more things without bothering the public for annoyances like hearings or even if we want such things.

By: OrdinaryCitizen

OrdinaryCitizen — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 20:03:58 +0000

Good points wetone. Where is the Port or Coast Guard on this one?

By: wetone

wetone — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 17:47:58 +0000

Sounds like ol Bruce Harrell is trying to salvage his run for mayor. It’s to late on that one for me. The way he has handled this issue and many others he has been involved with is not a person I want involved with a city I live in. Harrell along with most the city council and SPD Assistant Chief Paul McDonagh have not told the truth (lied) about the true intentions of this project from the start and have continued to do so. 5 mil badly spent, don’t care where it came from, and more will be spent defending their butts. The only way I would have ever believed these cameras had anything to do with the port is if they were all mounted on the water side and up towards the top of the poles for real views of the waterfront and port areas. As far as blocking out areas ? It would take a hard shield mounted to camera, as this group of people involved with project I wound never trust. Still haven’t heard from Coast Guard and Port of Seattle Police on this project ? I find that very strange as they cover the water and port. By the way cameras were mounted right first time around and changed after questions.