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