Police State Downtown.

[Jason]

There have already been quite lengthy discussions on this very subject.

http://www.metrojacksonville.com/forum/index.php/topic,2006.0.html

Maybe the threads should be merged.

[Lunican]

Thanks for posting that link Jason. The points brought forth in that thread are very valid and have not been covered in this new thread.

[BridgeTroll]

Thanks Jason... I just reread that entire thread.

[Jason]

No use in making the same comments twice, right? 

[Bewler]

So essentially someone will be monitoring people getting lunch during the day and then vacant sidewalks at night.

[jason_contentdg]

So essentially someone will be monitoring people getting lunch during the day and then vacant sidewalks at night.

Yes, essentially still life photography will work 70% of the time.

[jtwestside]

I have no privacy concerns; however I do have return on investment concerns. We would get better ROI by moving the homeless out of the center of the city (if the point of this is the entice people to come downtown by making them feel safer).

It's not that I'm not sympathetic to the plight of the downtrodden among us. Funds could at least be better spent on increase patrols.. etc.

[Johnny]

Was it ever determined what the actual costs would be since the equipment is being donated from a private source?

[BridgeTroll]

Stephen in your initial posting you mentioned the "plans".  Can we post the plans so we can see cost and locations etc.  It is difficult to make informed decisions when the plan is not available for all to see.

[BridgeTroll]

I understand that is your position and the position of others.  But informed decisions require seeing all the facts both pro and con.  Im sure you agree with that.

[BridgeTroll]

You said...

Apparently there are plans, (in this economy, no less) to attempt to move forward with a plan to put every square inch of downtown under 24 hour a day surveillance, leaving no private areas and exposing every visitor to the area to 360 degree surveillance and taping.

Myself... and I am guessing one or two others, would simply like to see the plan.  Seems a bit ridiculous that I should have to refer to it as a rumor or something I heard about.  Perhaps you can tell me where the plan is located so I can see the plan.

[BridgeTroll]

Just trying to get to the bottom of these plans...  Are these the plans you are refering to?

http://jacksonville.bizjournals.com/jacksonville/stories/2008/04/14/story2.html?b=1208145600

Downtown vision seems to like the idea.

[BridgeTroll]

Ok... it is becoming clearer now.  It is Downtown Vision who is pushing this project.  Sounds like this has not really been discussed in city council or mayors office.  Seems to me before the city can move ahead they would need the OK from legal council.  At some point this proposal must actually turn in to a plan... with actual plans and costs.

[Jason]

In any case, this will kill.  I mean kill any possibility downtown.

Stephen, why do you think it will kill any possiblity downtown?  Buisnesses already install their own surveillance systems for their protection.  Why wouldn't they see this an an extension of the security they provide for themselves?  Are the buisnesses downtown operating illegally?  Do they have something to hide?

[chris]

DVI should be dismantled.