Do Cameras Make Us Safer?

Here’s a question for you. Do surveillance cameras make us safer? Do they prevent problems? Some folks in town are beginning to ask that question. The Downtown Business Improvement Area (BIA) is in the early early stages of developing a proposal for a private video surveillance system in selected areas of downtown.

The City Manager met with the BIA and his brief to council stated that “The City could take part in the project in order to gain access to information about activities that take place in the public rights of way.” The suggested pilot implementation would include the Theater District and Pacific Avenue from 6th to 11th.

There isn’t a project yet. There isn’t funding. There are many more meetings, committees, and discussions that need to take place, but do you think cameras would address some of the issues plaguing this area? Would it make you feel safer?