At the close of an unusually brief City Council Meeting (August 25), Mayor Rick Gray formally presented the Council with an official memorandum, “Re: VIDEO SURVEILLANCE CAMERA PROGRAM.” The text of the memo was identical to the Mayor’s public statement regarding the cameras, released August 16 (click here to read).
In his comments at the City Council Meeting, the Mayor specifically committed to reporting to Council before the end of the year with “findings and any recommended action that may be appropriate in furtherance of our mutual goal of balancing public safety with personal privacy.” Mayor Gray also noted that he has directed the City Solicitor to research the extent to which the City may be able to regulate the use of the camera system, which is currently operated by the private Community Safety Coalition.
The Mayor’s comments, in their entirety, were as follows:
“As you are aware, the installation and use of cameras in public places by the Lancaster Community Safety Coalition (LCSC) has recently been the focus of much public discussion. These video cameras continue to be an important law enforcement tool in the apprehension of suspects and the investigation of crime. Just in these past few days, the cameras were used to help identify and apprehend an armed robber. That said, legitimate concerns must be addressed to assure that the privacy of the law-abiding public is not compromised.
“At various times, I have spoken to each Council member concern this issue. Your input, together with my own experience, research, and discussion with residents, serves as the basis for the attached memorandum. The memo outlines six recommendations for consideration by the Safety Coalition Board. In addition, I have recently named four high-ranking City staff to represent the Administration on that Board. Further, I have directed our Solicitor to research what authority the City may have to regulate the use of cameras. By the end of this year, I will report back to City Council with findings and any recommended action that may be appropriate in furtherance of our mutual goal of balancing public safety with personal privacy.”
Mayor’s words are too little too late. This recent scramble to appear concerned about the publics privacy contradicts the facts of the public record. Gray and the City Council have had 4 years to voice their concerns, and they have done nothing. Oh, excuse me, they HAVE done something . . . raised money and granted public tax payer funds and allowed the rapid expansion of what Joe Morales calls, “a social experiment”. And now they want us to trust them to do the right thing?