Reader Rant: “My Arguments Against OB Police Cameras”

Arguments By OB Rag and Others Opposed to Cameras Are Misguided

By Kevin Hastings

I strongly object to the installation of surveillance cameras along the beachfront.

With that said, I think the arguments by the OB Rag and others opposed to it are a bit misguided.

Appealing for liberty to sheep … you may as well try and teach a dog how to fly. In order to win over anyone on this, you have to consider their perspective.

It appears to me that a majority of OBcians currently support the cameras in the name of safety. Your newsletter poll said otherwise, but perhaps because they are birds of a feather, to an extent.

Police do not care about the privacy of anyone else.

If they had it their way, privacy would not exist because it is an inconvenience to them in their performance of duties. It prevents them from trespassing/searching whenever they have a hunch.

Not surprisingly they themselves can’t stand being recorded. Therefore the only way they’d change their mind is if it became bad press for them. So our appeal is really to the other citizens of OB.

Here’s my arguments:

1. What other use of the funds for public safety was considered? Where any? The citizens have a right to know if there are other ways to spend it short of surveilling them.

2. What will the annual costs be after the initial contract expires? Could that money be better spent elsewhere?

3. What measure will be used to determine whether the cameras are effective before continuing their use? Will the citizens be invited to this decision making process, or will they have to just take the SDPDs word for it? If they prove to be not effective, will they be physically removed?

4. Why OB? Why not all of Gaslamp or East Village for this experiment? Is OB really they poster-child for crime in San Diego? Is there any data to support them being installed in OB vs other areas? This degree of surveillance does not exist elsewhere in SD (outside of balboa park) to my knowledge.

5. Whats to stop SDPD from offsetting any gains by moving resources or officers to other areas, if there are improvements in public safety? Or can we expect it to free up our officers to patrol more in other areas of OB, like the cliffs and alleys?

6. What access will the citizens have to the camera footage? Will it be concealed like police body cameras and only released as they see fit? Will I be able to obtain access of a recording of me if I am a victim of a crime, or if am wrongfully accused of one?

7. OBMA supports the cameras, crime is bad for business.  OB merchants already have the ability to record on their own property. Why is this not sufficient? If it is in part due to inadequate police response or officers, then what good is it to add even more cameras? Based on my litter cleanup walks, these trouble-makers at the beach/wall/cliffs are consuming alcohol they purchased at the same local businesses.

8. “It’s a public place, you have no expectation of privacy”. So would you find it acceptable for me to record you while in public? While you play with your children, while you have a romantic moment with your significant other, while you eat a sandwich? Or would you tell me to turn it off and get lost? Personally, I DO have an expectation to not be constantly recorded by police or anyone while in public.

9. “The 4th amendment allows it” – The 4th amendment has evolved over the years but is a poor standard when it comes to privacy of citizens. The 4th amendment currently or has previously allowed wiretapping, bugging of phone booths, thermal imaging of residences, recording of and on private property without consent, cell phone searches, stop and frisk… etc.

And lastly, I attached revised new OB seagull logo for all those who just can’t get enough of feeling safe.

In fact if you find yourself needing any photoshop for a good cause, let me know. Sometimes a picture is worth a thousand words. I moved to OB only 2 years ago to settle down and raise a family, in large part due to it’s unique reputation as a freedom-loving and expressive community. I sure hope those days aren’t already over.