Even More Cameras, But Not On Town Council
We noted last week that the Vienna Town Council has no problem video taping everyone at the Vienna Community Center with $50,000 worth of cameras. The hypocrisy is that they refuse to tape their own public meetings. Now this from the Connection:
"It has been two years since a camera caught a negligent motorist running a red light at the intersection of Maple Avenue and Glydon Road in Vienna. Fairfax County resident Mike Stollenwerk wishes it would stay that way. "People will get used to the government monitoring them and think that’s normal," said Stollenwerk, founder of the Fairfax County Privacy Council. "It’s a slippery slope." Stollenwerk may be disappointed with the Virginia General Assembly’s decision to allow red-light cameras back into the commonwealth but several local governments are expressing interest in the program. Officials in Alexandria, Arlington, Fairfax City, Fairfax County, Loudoun County and Town of Vienna said they are looking into requirements and the fiscal impact of installing red-light cameras."
Comments
Fiscal impact? So they're only useful if they turn a profit?? What about their impact on safety? As a part-time pedestrian, part-time driver, I'd like to see more use of red light cameras. but I suppose safety doesn't matter to these people unless they can turn it into a money making venture.
Posted by: anne smith | July 8, 2007 10:46 PM
Initially the red light cameras were a bonanza for Vienna. Recall that after they were required to correct the yellow light timing by 3 seconds the revenues feel off drastically. Am I correct in believing that Vienna qualifies for only one camera based on population numbers?
Posted by: wyltn | July 9, 2007 12:59 PM
Not sure where I stand on the red light cameras. But, I do know that if cops were around in the afternoon to enforce intersections like Glyndon/Maple, life would be a whole lot better around here. If commuters are not running red lights, they block the intersections to keep you from crossing.
Posted by: vienna mommy | July 9, 2007 04:24 PM
$50,000 for video surveillance at a community center. What problem are they solving? Is this expenditure really necessary? Does it solve a $50,000 problem? Does it save lives? Can we live without it? I don't get it. It's a big world... are we going to put $50,000 worth of video cameras around every playground out there and hire someone to watch them? Just how did Maud survive the 50s without all of those cameras? The real problem here is other people spending other people's money on other people.
Posted by: Town Green | July 10, 2007 06:39 AM