Cameras bound for Pier and Promenade
CITY HALL — It will take more than 120 surveillance cameras and well over $1 million to adequately protect the city’s two most popular tourist attractions.
That’s according to officials, who are expected to authorize spending $1.3 million on a video surveillance system to protect the Santa Monica Pier and the Third Street Promenade that will include more than 120 surveillance cameras to monitor suspicious activity 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The cameras are just one part of a massive $2 million security plan that was initiated after the Santa Monica Police Department received a report in July of last year that three suspicious men of Middle Eastern descent were seen videotaping the pier, including police access roads and the SMPD’s substation.
In response to that incident, the SMPD added four overtime police officers and reconfigured the observation posts at the pier. Bomb-sniffing dogs also were brought in and protective buoys placed around the pier to restrict access by boats. Random vehicle check-points were established, along with traffic flow restrictions.
If approved by City Council, the cameras — 123 in all — would be installed on, under and around the pier, along Third Street and in alleys east and west of the Promenade.
The specific locations of the cameras will not be released because of security concerns, said SMPD Lt. Frank Fabrega.
There remains concern that the cameras, while a possible deterrent against crime or terrorists, could infringe on people’s right to privacy and would turn Santa Monica into a police state, where everyone’s actions are recorded by “Big Brother.”
In deciding to move forward with the cameras, City Council members said they have had to weigh the public’s concerns about privacy against the need to protect their well-being.
“In a pre 9/11 world we wouldn’t have been thinking of things like this,” Mayor Bob Holbrook said. “But we are recognized as an international destination and we are a very favored destination for a lot of people in this country … so we are responsible to do everything we can to make it safe while they’re here.
“We want to make it clear to those evil people who want to hurt the innocent that we are prepared and hopefully we can prevent them from doing that.”
Signs notifying people that they are being videotaped will be posted at select areas where the cameras would be located.
“It’s no different than when you walk into a bank or many retail establishments that have security cameras,” said City Councilwoman Pam O’Connor. “It’s like walking by tourists who snap their pictures and you just happen to be in the background and end up in someone’s scrapbook.”
But what about the federal government’s scrapbook?
Councilman Kevin McKeown is concerned that the footage collected by the SMPD could be used by other agencies that aren’t as trustworthy.
“My take is that in ensuring public safety, we must include protection from invasion of privacy,” he said. “A good example of that is with a company based in Santa Monica — Yahoo! The federal government came in and got all their search engine listings. I trust our police department, but I’m not so sure about other governmental agencies.”
McKeown said if he is not happy with provisions set out in the surveillance contract regarding footage being made available to other agencies, he would be inclined to vote against the plan.
According to a city staff report on the issue, footage will be stored for 90 days before being deleted. Those with access will be limited to employees approved by SMPD Chief James T. Butts Jr. They will receive training on how to use the system and will need some type of code or key card to access the system.
Images stored can only be viewed with permission from Butts or the watch commander, and only in response to public safety emergencies, and internal or criminal investigations. Video that is not used as evidence shall not be reproduced, distributed or provided to any other people without the approval of Butts or pursuant to a court order.
The system will only be used for purposes directly related to public safety and investigations. Cameras will not be used to track individuals arbitrarily or based on race, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability or other classifications protected by law, according to a city staff report, which was presented to the City Council Jan. 13.
None of the cameras will be able to zoom, pan or tilt without written authorization from Butts. If granted, the movement would only be allowed for a small period of time and for a particular investigation. Camera operators will be forbidden from looking at non-public areas and areas in which there is a reasonable expectation of privacy. Camera operators will be monitored and disciplined for misuse.
Federal Network Services, Inc. will be in charge of installing the cameras and maintenance. They were chosen out of a group of eight companies. Two vendors were selected from that group and allowed to install a limited number of cameras in select locations at the pier and Promenade. Following the trial period, Federal was selected as the best vendor.
To purchase and install the cameras, the City Council will need to spend $1.2 million. Maintenance for the five-year contract with Federal will cost an estimated $110,000.
“This is a good thing,” said Kathleen Rawson, executive director of Bayside District Corp., a merchants association downtown. “The cameras can be used as much as a deterrent as a tool in solving crimes and the business owners here, while concerned about first amendment rights, are happy to have them. I guess we just live in a time when we don’t have that luxury (of not having cameras) as much as we did in the past.”
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on February 14, 2006. Read the original PDF.