KINGS POINT, New York (PNN) - April 26, 2011 - If you visit Kings Point, Big Brother will be watching.
The wealthy Long Island village is planning an extensive network of security cameras that scan license plates to help reduce the number of property and home invasion crimes.
The 3.3-square mile North Shore community is home to 5,000 residents. The plan calls for 44 cameras to eventually be installed at the village’s 19 entrances. That’s about one camera for every 120 people.
Mayor Michael Kalnick said the project is needed to protect residents.
The system runs the license plate scan through criminal databases and if a match is found immediately notifies police.
Initially, three cameras will be installed. One has been operating on a test basis for 18 months and police are using two mobile units on patrol cars.
It’s not clear when the project will be completed.
“There (are) cameras on almost every intersection now. It’s the harsh reality of today’s world,” says one man.
Privacy advocates call the cameras overreaching. However, propaganda reporters failed to interview any individuals who espoused concerns about privacy, leaving the mainstream stories covering only the opinions of those who support such intrusive surveillance tactics.
For example, resident Barbara Stein uses a recent rash of home burglaries in the village to defend the surveillance.
“I mean if it’s caught on video, you know, they’ll have a better chance of apprehending whoever is doing this,” Stein tells WCBS 880 Long Island Bureau Chief Mike Xirinachs.
Aaron Freedburg says you have to balance people’s security and their right to privacy.
“[It's a good balance] as long as you’re respectful to the extent possible of people’s privacy and the things that enhance security, especially in this day and age. I tend to be in favor of (it),” Freedburg told 1010 WINS reporter John Montone.
Authorities stress that only police will have access to surveillance information. However, no accommodation has been made for the possible abuse by police of such private information as will be collected by Big Brother under this program, even though police officers throughout the country represent the largest single group of rights violators in the United States.
Nevertheless, residents are being told they will have to trust the untrustworthy police with their private information, and mainstream media are disregarding objections to the program.
