FOLLOWUP: City Council OKs surveillance-camera project, including studying possible future Alki/Harbor use

The City Council gave final approval today to the plan for a Seattle Police pilot program to use surveillance cameras in four areas of the city. None of them are in West Seattle, but the bill includes an amendment from District 1 Councilmember Rob Saka requiring SPD to study possibly using cameras in the Alki/Harbor Avenue area. We reported on this after the Public Safety Committee, for which Saka serves as vice chair, passed it two weeks ago. Actually authorizing cameras in Alki/Harbor would require separate legislation at some point in the future, so don’t expect to see them any time soon. The areas of the city where the bill does authorize cameras are downtown, Aurora, Belltown, and Chinatown/ID. Opponents have voiced privacy concerns; Saka acknowledged cameras bring “potential non-trivial privacy challenges,” but he and colleagues including Public Safety Committee chair Councilmember Bob Kettle contend there will be plenty of safeguards and oversight. Saka also contended video is needed as a “force multiplier,” and noted that if it’s eventually deployed for Alki/Harbor, that could help people who are “suffering from PTSD … because of what’s been going on down here.” The discussion of this item starts 2 hours and 8 minutes into the Seattle Channel recording of the meeting.

Joshua October 8, 2024 (9:38 pm)

I just love how the guy who thinks concrete lane dividers to prevent unsafe driving are oppressive and a devils gambit but somehow installing government controlled spy cameras is somehow the role of city government.

1994 October 8, 2024 (10:46 pm)

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Privacy is a thing of the past. Cameras are everywhere already. I saw a video here on the WSB showing the street in front of home. I walk that street frequently. Little did I know I am probably recorded every single time I walk past that home. Privacy is a thing of the past. Bring on the cameras because they can help identify people who are engaged in criminal behaviors. Big tech already does lots of spying on all those who use a smart phone or computer.
Johnny Stulic October 8, 2024 (11:06 pm)

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They’re hardly “spy” cameras if they’re visible and conspicuous, are they, so let’s dispense with the histrionics, shall we? All of you crying about the invasion of privacy out there in the open consistently fail to explain how your privacy is preserved when you walk around among other people. Are you wearing disguises? Masks? Invisibility cloaks?
And finally, the role of the city government is, among other things, to protect the public from crime (a radical idea considering the priorities of some previous City Council members, some of whom are now doing their best to re-elect Trump, figuring they’re done destroying Seattle, so might as well destroy the whole country – dream big or go home). If the CCTV helps in that respect, they should be on every corner. There is no such thing as privacy once you step outside.

Delridge Dan October 8, 2024 (10:13 pm)

This is a great start. Hopefully, they approve legislation to get cameras to Alki soon. These cameras can help with deterrence and hopefully provide a live feed to gain an upper hand in high activity areas such as Alki.