NYPD Eyes On New York

George Orwell’s, “1984” may still be our “Fun City” future. The NYPD plans a $100 million video network for downtown Manhattan. It’s known as “Operation Sentinel.” 3,000 high-tech surveillance cameras to safeguard lower Manhattan against terrorist attacks. The NYCLU wants to see more plan details. They filed suit in court because they believe the police aren’t giving them sufficient information about the video system. Conversely, the police believe they have complied with the NYCLU’s request as best they can without compromising security. The question remains. How will cameras in lower Manhattan (or anywhere for that matter) thwart bombs in planes, trucks, cars or bags from doing horrific damage? That must be answered before spending taxpayer dollars. The government still needs to tighten security around America’s borders, increase the use of detection equipment, organize volunteer civilian patrols and enforce existing criminal laws. Spending money for a camera system that likely won’t deter terrorists, but only take pictures of their destruction seems like the "perfect picture" of wasted money. By the way, has anyone seen a really clear surveillance tape anyway?