July 9, 2007
You're On Lower Manhattan Security Initiative Camera!
We've been hearing about a plan to increase security downtown by placing security cameras and license plate readers in Lower Manhattan, "ring of steel"-style for a while, but now the NY Times has word on when it'll happen. According to police officials, more than 100 cameras will be in place by the end of the year and if it's fully financed, over 3,000 private and public cameras will be up and running. From the Times:
Three thousand surveillance cameras would be installed below Canal Street by the end of 2008, about two-thirds of them owned by downtown companies. Some of those are already in place. Pivoting gates would be installed at critical intersections; they would swing out to block traffic or a suspect car at the push of a button.So far, the NYPD has $25 million of the $90 million needed for the "Lower Manhattan Security Initiative" (the Times article refers to it as a "surveillance veil," which sounds much more Victorian), but there's criticism. The NYCLU worries what will happen to the images that are collected, while a Heritage Foundation homeland security fellow suggests that there will be a lot of useless information for the police to go through. However, Police Commissioner Ray Kelly said, "This area is very critical to the economic lifeblood of this nation. We want to make it less vulnerable.”Unlike the 250 or so cameras the police have already placed in high-crime areas throughout the city, which capture moving images that have to be downloaded, the security initiative cameras would transmit live information instantly.
London created a "ring of steel" after the IRA bombings. Last year, there were concerns that the Department of Homeland Security wouldn't give the city funding for projects like this. Apparently the DHS has contributed $10 million so far (the other $15 million is from city money); Kelly told the Times he hopes the rest of the money will come from federal grants.
Photograph of a surveillance camera near 11 Spring Street by Rukii on Flickr
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"Pivoting gates would be installed at critical intersections; they would swing out to block traffic or a suspect car at the push of a button."
WHAT
THE
FUCK!
The better to capture Eeeeevil Bikers?
No, silly. The better to capture... the Splasher!
I just hope congestion pricing goes into effect ASAP! All these self-obcessed morons who drive in their car alone, taking up space, creating pollution and heat, have got to go. To think that the majority of them drive because it's convenient for them. Well, convenience is goiong to ruin America. Time to do what is right for the world (or city) and not what is convenient to yourself.
Wake up world! The American dream has put you to sleep!
One man's surveillance is another's performance art. C'mon, crew, lower Manhattan is now one large studio... let's get going...
Of course we need more surveillance - there's more white people living and working in the area.
Lol, #6 I agree with you on that ! That's one reason for all those cameras . Personally, I have a problem with someone watching my every move regardless of the terror implications . It's just the current state of histeria this countries engulfed in . Posted by; "Still Not Amused"
#7: Seriously, give it up, man.
#7 is a fucking retard. I have many English friends and not one of them has every complained about civil rights violations from the UK's CCTV system. You sound like a whiner and professional victim.