Surveillance camera locations in Somerville

[ron_newman]

I went to last night's public hearing on surveillance cameras in Somerville. I don't have time right now for a full report, but the police did distribute a map of approximate locations where the seven cameras are mounted:

- Davis Square (I’ve seen this one, it’s next to the traffic light at Highland and College aves)
- Union Square (the Somerville Journal has a photo of this one on the SCAT building)
- Broadway and Cross streets (on top of the old fire station)
- Highland Ave. and Walnut Street (I haven’t looked for this one yet)
- Middlesex Ave (near Kensington St or maybe Cummings St? I haven’t looked for this one yet, but it's probably the one the police chief described as being useful for locating accidents on I-93)
- on a light pole at the entrance to the Linear Path just beyond Buena Vista Road (easy to see once you know what to look for)
- on a light pole on the Linear Path, just this side of the Cambridge city line (ditto)

I also see two cameras on the back of the CVS building, one next to Dover Street and the other next to Day Street. These are not on the city’s list. Are they privately owned, and if so, what is their purpose?

Also, when I left City Hall last night, the police chief showed me another camera, mounted on the exterior wall of City Hall, just right of the entrance as you’re going in. This one is supposed to stop vandalism of the ‘Smart Cars’ in the parking lot.

Finally, I see a whole bunch of cameras pointing in different directions on the fairly new traffic light, where the Argenziano school driveway intersects Washington Street.

The School Department and the Somerville Housing Authority also have security cameras, separate from any belonging to the city.

Please add comments with other camera locations you've seen.

Edit: Here's the Somerville Journal article on last night's hearing.

Comments

[hrafn.livejournal.com]

Other cities and other towns have already used cameras for surveillance and "crime prevention." There is plenty of documentation about how (un)successful these things really are in the long run. We don't need to be yet another trial.