Wednesday, July 06, 2005

NBC5.com - News - Chicago Housing Authority To Install Additional Cameras At Developments
Thanks to Nancy Levy for this one. I thought Cabrini Green was supposed to be knocked down and replaced by condos and townhomes by now. Nice to know they can focus in real close on those gunshots. Things sure are under control in Chicago public housing, don't you think?

The Chicago Housing Authority will install police surveillance cameras at additional developments, officials said Wednesday.At a news conference at the Near North District police station, 1160 N. Larrabee St., Mayor Richard M. Daley said the CHA has purchased 24 new bulletproof cameras identical to those used under the 2-year-old "Operation Disruption" and monitored by the city's 911 Center. Ten cameras already are in place at various CHA complexes, including Cabrini-Green, and 14 more will be installed by the end of the year, according to Monique Bond, spokeswoman for the Office of Emergency Management and Communications...Daley said the cameras will also be equipped with the same acoustic sensors used to triangulate the position of nearby gunfire. When gunshots are detected by the cameras, an alarm is sent to the 911 Center and the camera's lens focuses on the area where the gunshot went off..

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

The article leads one to believe that cameras will solve current and future crime problems; an inference I find difficult to believe.

My main concern are the later 'facts' stated that all the wealthy communities have similar cameras and that those blue flashing cameras will not be a deterrent to buyers for the planned mixed-income developments. Removing the flashing lights makes the presence of cameras even more clandestine and onerous.

In my opinion, this type of surveillance is nothing more than 'Big Brother is watching you' and now opens the door for all developments to do the same. Will HOA Boards then be able to access and use those tapes to track those who are not in their favor?