> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.smdp.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Cameras go up to protect in parking lots - URL: https://www.smdp.com/letters-to-the-editor-city-manager-should-think-leaner-tighter/ - Published: 2006-12-18T16:00:00.000Z - Updated: 2026-10-23T23:24:05.000Z - Author: Bill Bauer - Tags: Government & Politics, Downtown, #archive-import *Pay on foot discussed Governor hopes Dems support building project Robberies spotlight dangers in city garages PRISON SPACE, from page 3* DOWNTOWN — Attendants in the downtown parking structures have been robbed at least 10 times within the last year alone, prompting City Hall to install a number of security cameras in efforts to protect the vulnerable city workers. The cameras, which will be provided by the same company that installed more than 120 cameras on the Third Street Promenade and Santa Monica Pier, are also being mounted in efforts to gather evidence on those responsible, city officials said. “This is for two purposes — security and customer service,”said Jory Wolf, chief information officer for City Hall, pointing out that the surveillance system will also be used to better manage traffic flow, potentially cutting down on the time drivers must wait to enter and exit the garages. “The cameras will be hung in a way that will not only protect those taking cash at the kiosks, but we’ll also be able to see cars queuing up in exit lanes so that parking management folks will be able to respond with more resources.” City Hall will spend $75,000 on the system, which will be installed by Federal Network Services. The Washington-based company will install cameras in each of the downtown structures except those attached to the Santa Monica Place mall. Taped footage will be stored for 30 days and be monitored by transportation officials, according to Wolf. A contract with Federal is nearly complete and the cameras should be installed after the new year. Wolf would not say how many cameras would be placed in each structure. “I don’t want to give out the number or location, because that might undermine our security efforts,” Wolf said. No employees were injured in the robberies, which have occurred mostly after dark,between 5 p.m. and 1:10 a.m., said Lt.Alex Padilla of the Santa Monica Police Department. “There have been multiple suspects. Some are strong-arm and others were armed robberies,” Padilla said. “Investigations are still ongoing.” City officials said the average loss was between $200 and $300. Two robberies occurred back in January, in structures No. 4 and No. 6, respectively, and then died down until May when structure No. 4 was hit again. There were two more robberies in July, two in August and two more in September. The most recent hold-up occurred in November in parking structure No. 7. The robberies have sparked renewed interest in a “pay on foot program,” in which drivers park and use an automated teller machine that accepts coins, cash, credit cards or stored value cards. Members of the Bayside District Corp. board, which advises City Hall on issues related to downtown, view pay on foot as a way to cut down on robberies, save money on personnel and provide a faster, more efficient way to move cars in and our of the structures, something which can take a half hour or more during the height of the Christmas shopping season. “Let’s spend the money in the right place,” said John Warfel, a Bayside board member who specializes in commercial real estate.“We need (pay on foot). It will be revenue positive.” City officials said they are having discussions about installing pay on foot as part of a pilot program, however, there are some concerns about how it would affect the revenue stream. “Talk of 3 cents (for a credit card transaction fee) is just bureaucratic nonsense,” said Rob York, a consultant to Bayside.“There are so many things not being addressed that are simple... It’s frustrating.” For a city that prides itself on being eco-friendly, City Hall should install pay on foot to cut back on cars idling in the garages and “save our air,” said Patricia Hoffman, a Bayside board member. City Manager Lamont Ewell said he is very interested in pay on foot, but “there are still some issues which need to be resolved and I don’t believe we should put the public or any of our employees at risk while we work through those problems. “I respect the concerns of Bayside and we will try to accommodate their needs,” Ewell added. “But from our point of view, our highest priority is safety and security.” *Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on December 18, 2006.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/121806.pdf?ref=smdp.com)