Photo du Jour 516
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It was with some interest that we read Chuck Nevius's latest column on security cameras in the City. The reviews of the cameras have been mixed at best, with the most recent incident involving the use of camera footage to prove that an accused man was innocent, and that the witnesses in the case were somewhat less than reliable. On the other hand, the cameras have done very little to solve crimes, possibly because the footage quality is terrible, nobody watches them live, and the tapes are erased after seven days because of storage limitations. Limitations? When a 500 GB drive is under $100?
Our experience with the cameras in the Lower Haight has been, well, mixed. When they went up, one of the locals told us we couldn't take photos of the cameras. Not inspiring. On the other hand, nobody's been shot at Haight and Webster in some time. So...readers. Thoughts? Are they worth it? Is their presence preventative in some way? Or is this similar to the no-liquids rules at the airport - good theater, but fundamentally worthless?
Photo from Flickr user andreaskristensson, used under a Creative Commons license
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Spot the difference:
"On the other hand, nobody's been shot at Haight and Webster in some time."
"Ever since I bought this rock, no bears have attacked me."
As a resident of Haight/Webster, the cameras don't seem to deter anything. The dealing still goes on and if the cops drive by, the dealers go into Two Jacks Seafood or S&W liquors. After living here for 6 years, I am on good terms with the local baseheads. There's Serpent and the Rainbow, Slalom Skier, Predator and Erkel. I think Erkel just got pinched last week though.
- good theater, but fundamentally worthless?
Not mentioning the fact that it's an affront to freedom and civil liberties. They need to go. It's just a money grab.
As the studies have shown, cameras only deter crime within 500 feet of the camera, but significantly increase shortly beyond that.
In Europe, mostly I've heard about GB, the cameras are vandalised or completely destroyed on a regular basis.
or "since we invaded iraq, there have been no terrorist acts on american soil."
This is San Francisco -- we've made them a help and a boondoggle.
Yep. We gave them a chance.
If they don't work, they don't work.