CrimeEye Goes Live At 7th & H St NW

First the hideous super high intensity lights on top of these buildings, now a big security camera contraption…

I can’t help but feel like there have to be more subtle ways to keep the city safe. I’m sure this will work to some degree but I don’t think it’s the best solution.

I happen to like the lights illuminating the sidewalks. Before the lights went up, panhandlers used to hide in the shadows and sleep in storefronts. The pre-existing street lamps hardly lit up the sidewalks, and I doubt DDOT was going to install a street lamp every 10 feet.

As for the new camera, I don’t think it’s a “solution” to anything. It is unlikely to prevent any crime. I just see it as a tool the MPD can use if a crime occurs and they need to investigate after the fact.

Saw this on WJLA last night. They were saying Ward 2 has the least amount of cameras.

The District’s Newest Crime Camera
http://www.wjla.com/news/stories/0308/505647.html

I welcome them. I hope one day, people on this board will find the Utopia they’re seeking.

I’m not opposed to illuminating the sidewalks, It’s the manner in which it was done which emits not only an unpleasant quality of light but also ruins the aesthetics of the buildings they were mounted onto.

There are plenty of ways to illuminate the public realm that enhance the beauty of the city and don’t make you want to wear sunglasses at night.

Utopia? I think most of the comments that people post on this board aren’t based on far off dreams but the fact that many of us have lived in different cities and are merely hoping that someday the district will afford us many of the great qualities we have found elsewhere.

There’s nothing wrong with demanding the best from our city. It’s maybe the opposite attitude thats allowed for the deterioration of most great American cities.

Welcome to Chinatown, Big Brother.

excellent! i am happy to see this installed. i’ve seen too many reports on ‘snitches’… reports on how working with the police is a bad thing (considered ‘negative’ by some groups). we need to take action and put criminals away… for a long time i’ll still pay my taxes proudly, on time, in full… why not?

watch this:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=wTwipn-Fp_U

Can it see what goes on in front of the McDonalds? Maybe we need one at 7th and G too!

How anyone could be proud to pay taxes I just don’t understand. It’s nothing but legalized theft. These cameras are a logical extension of the PATRIOT Act mentality and it scares the heck out of me. Put more cops on the street, not cameras.

To PQS, Ideally it would be nice to have cops on every street corner, but the cameras appear to be better use of our tax dollars.
Hopefully the ones in charge are watching the cameras, and not chatting in groups,as we see on the streets.

To #3 Rank, As I walk the streets in the District,(which I have covered alot over the past week) I have mixed feelings. In some ways the city has come far, but still needs so much more before becoming a world class city. A handful of overpriced condos and restaurants, isn’t going to do it.

We should all desire to improve the area we live in…even if it will never become an ideal Utopia.

The purpose of this camera is not to illegally spy on citizens, but to help control crime in an area where there has been a lot of trouble. I avoid 7th & H streets because of the mayhem that occurs there, so maybe this camera may make it a little safer one day. This is not President Bush’s initiative, so relax; our civil liberties aren’t being assailed here.

i always wanted a big brother…now that i have one…im not so sure..
xoxo

Someone tell the O Street Crew so they can give that camera some stitches for snitchin.

The camera’s are only an ISSUE to those who are doing something illegal.
The rest of us law abiding citizens won’t even be noticed.

Oh please — this will get rid of the juvenile delinquents. I personally will feel safer coming out of Metro at night in that location with an “eye” on me. And maybe I won’t be assaulted by the aroma of marijuana anymore in that location.

I like the cameras. Bring them on!!