New West Seattle surveillance cameras raising eyebrows
SEATTLE -- A series of surveillance cameras recently installed along the West Seattle shoreline are raising eyebrows, and concerns about who's watching what.
And there are more on the way.
Seattle police say the high-tech cameras are part of an expanding security project that also involves the Port of Seattle and the Coast Guard. The various agencies say the mission is to keep closer watch on the city's waterways, from Puget Sound into Elliott Bay.
But there's skepticism.
"I want to be able to trust at my age that what our government says is truth," said Karin Watson. "I've lived long enough to know that isn't always so."
Seattle police insist scanning the waters for illegal or sinister activity is the top priority, not monitoring what people are doing on Alki Avenue, Harbor Avenue and Beach Drive.
At least six cameras are mounted on city utility and light poles, right in the middle of residential neighborhoods.
Seattle police say once the cameras go operational, they'll have a backing on the side that faces peoples' homes and businesses, so the cameras can't be aimed that way, and instead focus all the attention out toward the water.
"As long as the police department is not using it to pick out individual people and spy on them, that's fine," said West Seattle resident Steve Epstein
But others wonder if certain freedoms are being compromised, and if this is the best way to increase protection and prevent harm from happening.
"Are we suspicious of surveillance in the U.S. in general?" wondered Ilyse Rathet. "Don't always believe that resources are invested for best use of the public."
Even before the cameras are turned on, police say the surveillance system will soon expand to the Seattle waterfront.
The money for the surveillance system is coming from a Homeland Security federal grant.
And there are more on the way.
Seattle police say the high-tech cameras are part of an expanding security project that also involves the Port of Seattle and the Coast Guard. The various agencies say the mission is to keep closer watch on the city's waterways, from Puget Sound into Elliott Bay.
But there's skepticism.
"I want to be able to trust at my age that what our government says is truth," said Karin Watson. "I've lived long enough to know that isn't always so."
Seattle police insist scanning the waters for illegal or sinister activity is the top priority, not monitoring what people are doing on Alki Avenue, Harbor Avenue and Beach Drive.
At least six cameras are mounted on city utility and light poles, right in the middle of residential neighborhoods.
Seattle police say once the cameras go operational, they'll have a backing on the side that faces peoples' homes and businesses, so the cameras can't be aimed that way, and instead focus all the attention out toward the water.
"As long as the police department is not using it to pick out individual people and spy on them, that's fine," said West Seattle resident Steve Epstein
But others wonder if certain freedoms are being compromised, and if this is the best way to increase protection and prevent harm from happening.
"Are we suspicious of surveillance in the U.S. in general?" wondered Ilyse Rathet. "Don't always believe that resources are invested for best use of the public."
Even before the cameras are turned on, police say the surveillance system will soon expand to the Seattle waterfront.
The money for the surveillance system is coming from a Homeland Security federal grant.
I think Renton is starting to put these in as well. Went around the corner and I found one right at an intersection. Totally stunned with absolute confusion when I saw that. What in the hell do they think they're gonna do with those? Just mindnumbing!
Now it is 1984
Knock-knock at your front door
It's the suede/denim secret police
They have come for your uncool niece
More of our money being wasted. Doesn't look like it would take to much to take the cameras out. Remember the movie Demolition Man. They had cameras all over the place to watch people. It starts out small and grows over time. Pretty soon the government will have hacked into all of our web cams, Xbox Kinect cameras and smart phone cameras to spy on us in the home and every where else. They will claim it is for our own good or security. Don't trust them!
@Thepriest They can already do that with any camera that is linked to the internet.. This is just more survelance for keeping tabbs on everyone.
I am ok with public cameras as long as there are signs clearly indicating that the area is subject to video surveillance.Â
Having grown up in a time where, over all, the populus was extremely aware of their rights/freedoms and willing to fight for them it's nausiating to see the new generations not only not care about freedom but are not even aware of it's definition.
Get over it! You are in a public place. How about we hire people to watch people? If you are in public and you are not alone, then someone is watching you.
 @Chico But the government has restrictions.  Our Constitution and bill of right was not to allow us freedom given to us from the government or to grant power to the government but to restrict the government.
A few cameras on a street. Well England started out with a few cameras on the street, now they cover the country. But then again, the liberals love to have big brother watching over them. Makes them feel safe and protected. And we have to realize that liberals are addicted to thier medication.........they cant go a day without some kind of mood enhancement drug......WAKE UP......
@Busyhands Yeah the "liberals" created Homeland Security right?
Just stand in front of it and do something illegal to see how efficient they are
You know what would be real smart if USCG wants to keep an eye on things? Put hi-resolution cameras on area buoys...We got lots of them and it could probably be helpful...But then again, if it makes sense, it sure won't be done by the government.Â
 @PacificNWlover too low, and since they are on the water they will be subject to much greater wear and tear. Maintenance would be more expensive as well.
OMG, most of you have not taken your medication today for paranoia or put your tin foil hats on. Get grip, it's a few cameras on a city street.
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But since you don't like cameras, lets go ahead and take them out of the SPD cars. Don't want "Big Brother" watching you make an #&% out of yourself when pulled over.
@Common Sense that is quite a bit different.. The person who is pulled over, is suspect of some wrong doing.. On the other hand, the surveilance cameras, watch everyone, so everyone is treated as a suspect.. The government is overstepping its bounds by installing such things.
"I want to be able to trust at my age that what our government says is truth," said Karin Watson. "I've lived long enough to know that isn't always so." There ya go lady. You're figuring it out. We ALL would like to be able to trust our government, but how can you trust an entity that force feeds us things that THEY won't eat, and changes the rules every time we finally learn how to play? Welcome to the New America.
Remember how all those cameras stopped the July 5th 2005 bombing in the UK?
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/7_July_2005_London_bombings
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Oh, my mistake, many lives were lost and the cameras did nothing and still do nothing. But hey, if they do nothing there, I'm sure they'll work here! </sarcasm>
Big Brother watching you, and the sheeple say nothing.Wake up people!Â
You know what is missing in this article? The cost
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How much and who is paying should always be two questions that are asked and answered.
 @Justaguy Our Taxes.
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Get a clue.
 @Justaguy The last line in the story.
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"The money for the surveillance system is coming from a Homeland Security federal grant."
 @komoispropaganda  @Justaguy Yeah, but the actual amount was not revealed.  Who funds the homeland security grant? Where does that money come from?  Taxes?
 @Harley-H.S.C.  @komoispropaganda  @Justaguy
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 GEEZUS, you guys are gonna give me an anuerysm, LOL!! Â
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I know it comes from our tax dollars - I asked HOW MUCH. Â I want a dollar figure. Oy. Â :-)
@Smokin Bear @bearzooka @komoispropaganda @Justaguy All the money that was spent was and is going to be paid for by Taxpayers, now AND in the future. (Read your grandkids will also pay for this)
 @Smokin Bear  @komoispropaganda  @Justaguy Yes. Taxes. MOST funding comes from taxes. (Or rich people with WAY too much money)
 @bearzooka  @komoispropaganda  @Justaguy Alright smart guy...lol...so how much of our tax dollars were spent on this? That's a reasonable question.
 @Smokin Bear  @komoispropaganda  @Justaguy It's printed at the federal reserve. Taxes cover only a tiny fraction of the federal budget
Only people up to no good should be worried about the cams
 @Seattle THAT old chestnut again?
 @Seattle Really? Do you have sex with your significant other without fully closing the curtains? These cameras are popping up everywhere. No telling exactly WHAT they are focused on, or who's running them.
 @Harley-H.S.C.  @Seattle Was THAT you? LOL!!Â
 @Seattle Its more than people being up to no good.Do you feel free when somebody is watching you?
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Why don't you go to the area where the cameras are and flip them off, see what happens next.Let us know what happens.Â
 @Seattle so you won't mind if i come and film outside your home 24/7 from the sidewalk then? great! what's your address?
 @bearzooka  @Seattle Got leather? LOL!!
 @Seattle I am SO tired of this line being paraded around as if that makes it all ok. It doesn't.
Can I put up cameras around your home?
The meth house next door to me put in a camera that shoots across MY property to watch for Police and who knows what they think is coming. Does anyone know if THAT is legal?
Believe it or not, they haven't. The meth heads have more rights than I do.......
@Beau's Mom - well,the meth house isn't legal, so I'm thinking their cameras aren't either. I guess the police cannot do anything?
 @bobalouie Honestly I would love for our apartments to put up some cameras around the building cause then I might know who stole my winch and siphoned my gas. : (
I'm curious as to what prompted this.
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Is the Seattle waterfront a haven for criminal activity?
Is there any proof of that?
What's really at work here?
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Please forgive me, but I can't recall any drug smuggling, terrorist attempts, or gun running on Puget Sound.
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So, what's the point?
 @bobalouie The main point is that they got the money for the cameras for free. Can't EVER turn down "free" money from the federal government.
 @bobalouie The ultimate plan is to watch you 24/7 wherever you go on the planet from when you leave your home until you return. It's Total Information Awareness still alive but underground where it's none of your business. Since this is Homeland Security, it's also FBI Fusion Center linked. All of that will end up at the NSA's new data center where it will be housed for eternity if the police state has any say over it (and that's about  the only group that does have a say, unless you believe in God or that the common people will stand up and say no to all of this before it's too late).
"Any society that would give up a little liberty to gain a little security will deserve neither and lose both."Â
~ Benjamin Franklin
Keep dancing around the who, what and why's and the local sheeple will fall into line...
 @Windowseat Including you.  LOL! Don't like it? Then dismantle the cameras.  <Folding arms smugly> :-)
If the cameras are to assist the Coast Guard and other enforcement agencies in monitoring for safe waterways, why are the cameras on the street side of the posts and not on the side facing the water?
 @oldada They were hoping you wouldn't notice those ones. . .Â
It's OK for the government to wiretap any phone without a court order, it's OK for the government to monitor our electronic communications like email, twitter, facebook, ..., it's OK for the government to use surveillance drones to spy on us, but now, people are just waking up to video cameras? We have lost more ability to live anonymously, have lost more privacy, have lost more of our rights granted by the Bill of Rights in the last 20 years and now with just a simple video camera being mounted on a pole do people get concerned with big brother knowing you? We have lost the battle of our privacy from big brother a long time ago without even a vote. Keep electing politicians that care more about their power then they do about the people who elected them and we will keep losing more and more of our rights. Â
 @Beam_Me_Up One correction. The Bill of Rights does NOT "grant" any rights, it merely states what rights the federal government (and by later court decisions, the states) CANNOT infringe upon. The rights guaranteed by the Bill of Rights are inherent to a free people.
Bravo!