The very long-running story of city surveillance cameras is about to go live with an agreement to post them on utility poles.
The 21-page agreement with PSE&G will be up for a vote at the March 9 regular meting, 8 p.m. in Municipal Court. The utility company will charge an annual fee of $28.06 per pole, for a total of $1,673.44. In addition, PSE&G will expect the city to take out insurance policies in amounts varying by type from $1 million for liability to a $10 million "umbrella" policy. The complete agreement may be seen in the new electronic packet online at the City Council link on the city web site.
The camera story goes back at least to 2005. Former Union County Prosecutor Theodore Romankow said at a 2006 public safety forum that they would "go far" to help fight crime. In 2007, the city-owned space in the former Tepper's building was considered as a surveillance center for the cameras. In 2008, use of $1 million in Urban Enterprise Zone funds was proposed to pay for the cameras and associated costs.
Plans for the Tepper's basement surveillance center went forward in 2009, but were still all talk in 2010. Six years after the allocation of UEZ funds, the money remained unspent in 2011. An update in 2012 found the Tepper's basement unsuitable and construction starting on a surveillance center in the basement of police headquarters.
The latest proposal came in December and now we have the promise perhaps of getting the cameras up to monitor certain areas. The locations will not be made public and the cameras may be moved around as needed. Council approval Monday will finally get this show on the road.
--Bernice
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They will be placed in area with a large African American population'
ReplyDeletewhich could be anywhere in the city of plainfied....and if thats where the crime is who are you going to blame for that? grow up!
DeleteHave you looked outside a window lately? This isnt Plainfield in the 30's. In case you missed it, there are a few black families in town. And guess what, even spanish, indian, chinese and get this...white folk! Cameras are a great idea in any city to record the goings on of the unscrupulous, regardless of the color of their skin. And these ones don't give out tickets unless you really deserve one!
DeleteActually I am white and I would love to have one right outside my house. If the blacks don't want them I do
DeleteWhat a stupid comment to make! Plainfield is 80% minority and if they would have put these cameras in parks and downtown years ago we would have less crime today. I can not wait till they get installed.
DeleteAmerica used to pride itself on not being a totalitarian society with secret agents on every corner watching the movements of its citizens. Ironic how readily people support politicians who have abandoned principle and embraced electronic surveillance. Does "crime control" justify every means? Are we no longer willing to pay a price to preserve liberty?
ReplyDeleteDepends on how you define liberty. The freedom to break laws and live lawlessly?
DeleteIt's nice to see we can make progress after eight years of going nowhere. We need cams. We have them in my building, but I don't here black residents feeling like they are being picked on. The race card doesn't go too far in a city with a black mayor, and black City Council except for one member. Let's get real here. We need it and this isn't Ferguson.
ReplyDeleteOur mayor may have black skin but does not understand The black experience, not his fault he was not born here. He relates more to white people that is just a fact. This does not make him a bad person, just someone out of touch with a large portion of the city.
ReplyDeleteWhy because he speaks English and not ghetto slang. Is it because he worked hard and is successful Is it because he and his family are educated and have manners. Or is it you and the others who claim the Mayor is "out of touch" are jealous and are running out of excuses not to succeed.
DeleteAnd he appoints a black City Administrator, a black Director of Admin & Finance, a black Public Safety Director, a black DPW director, a black Corporation Counsel, a black Recreation Director, a few whites, a few Latinos, and a few hybrids. Cut the crap with the not understanding 'The black experience', or being out of touch. You're the one who is out of touch with Plainfield.
DeleteI agree the cameras will catch criminals no mater what color they are. Plainfield needs to be able to be called the clean and safe Queen City again!
DeleteTo understand the Black Experience has nothing to do with Ghetto Slang, that shows your ignorance and racism.He hired the best people for those jobs, but still does not understand Black Hardship or struggle, and if you are white sorry you don't have a clue,therefore your comments mean nothing.
ReplyDeleteSo... you use the "black experience" phrase... what is it exactly... go into detail.
DeleteNo ones allowed on park ave . Front is and it's problem is invisible. A tale of two cities !!!
ReplyDeletePut the cameras in city hall
ReplyDelete