In New Orleans, the priorities of city government are just plain wrong. The top priority for this administration should be to insure public safety. Sadly, New Orleans has a horrific crime rate and citizens and tourists are wise to be careful on the streets of the city.
One way that the Nagin administration has promised to protect the citizens is to install crime cameras at key hotspots throughout city. Unfortunately, there have been months of delays and controversy about the cameras. There have been well documented problems with contractors that have been paid to install the cameras. We still do not know how many are installed and working properly. Last week, the Nagin administration reported that 213 crime cameras are currently working correctly, although few people trust the word of this administration. On this issue, Nagin has often had to back away from his pledges. For example, he initially promised 1,000 crime cameras would be installed, a number that will probably never be realized.
While the installation of crime cameras have been fraught with delay and inefficiency, the process of installing red light cameras have been very efficient and timely. Today, city officials announced that more cameras would be operating at selected intersections on St. Charles Avenue. In contrast to the crime cameras, the red light cameras seem to work properly and have been installed correctly. They are placed at busy intersections designed to extract as much revenue as possible from city drivers. Cleary, the motivation for the red light cameras is to provide money for the City of New Orleans.
In New Orleans, extracting revenue takes precedence over providing public safety. In my view, New Orleans should not take a dime of money from motorists nabbed by red light cameras until all of the crime cameras are installed and working. It is immoral that the Nagin administration shows more interest in boosting their treasury than in protecting their citizens.
Personally, I am opposed to both types of cameras, since they are installed by city government. It is akin to government spying on the public, raising the ugly specter of “big brother” interfering in our daily lives.
Nonetheless, it is clear that these cameras are here to stay. Since crime cameras may save lives and help fight crime, I believe they are much more important than the red light cameras, which might cause more accidents as people slam on their brakes to avoid getting a dreaded ticket.
This situation shows a great deal about the misplaced priorities of this administration. Another example involves the meter maid program, which is extremely efficient, especially when compared to the disorganization of a typical public safety department, like the NOPD. The meter maids seem to be everywhere constantly writing tickets. In contrast, citizens regularly complain about the NOPD. Again public safety should take precedence over extracting revenue from residents and tourists. New Orleans needs more public safety. The last thing that this administration needs is more money to waste.
Jeff Crouere is a native of New Orleans, LA and he is the host of a Louisiana based program, “Ringside Politics,” which airs at 7:30 p.m. Fri. and 10:00 p.m. Sun. on WLAE-TV 32, a PBS station, and 7 till 11 a.m. weekdays on WGSO 990 AM in New Orleans and the Northshore. For more information, visit his web site at www.ringsidepolitics.com. E-mail him at jeff@ringsidepolitics.com.
Po-Boy says, "How about we put cameras outside the residences of ALL elected officials,politicians,police chiefs,mayors,etc.in the entire metro area? Let's see just who visits: a hooker, a lap dancer (or two)"......ROFL!!! Written by KjunLady
on 8/5/2008
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A camera here, a camera there, put a camera everywhere! The red light camera catches the poor schmo 1 foot over the line and wham,110 bucks for the "general fund"; or is it supposed to be earmarked for the hospitals in Jefferson parish?Nobody really knows. A murder is commited on the streets of New Orleans. No problem, the camera sees all, oh wait, that camera wasn't working. How about we put cameras outside the residences of ALL elected officials,politicians,police chiefs,mayors,etc.in the entire metro area? Let's see just who visits: a hooker, a lap dancer (or two), a lobbyist with a bag of cash maybe. We could check to see if they have "ghosts plates" on their government provided vehicle or maybe catch them stumbling in from an all night bender after just demolishing a tollgate. Maybe a new freezer for the well connected Senator types.Now your talking. Let's take full advantage of this technology.Red light runners are chump change, let's create some real revenue! Written by poboy1
on 8/5/2008
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"213 crime cameras"..... Are these cameras recording?... (I doubt it)... which means they're useless.......You need a lot of manpower to properly observe 213 live cameras....What a waste of money. Written by KjunLady
on 8/4/2008
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I agree that both types of cameras raise the ugly specter of Big Brother and are troublesome in that regard. The crime cameras sound OK on the surface but the exact problem is exactly as pointed out, i.e. with the technology comes the ability to use it in whichever way that user wishes. If you want the anti-crime cameras then the price you have to pay is having the city being able to make use of the red light cameras. And don't focus the blame solely on New Orleans. Didn't Jefferson Parish have the red light cameras first? Not to mention Lafayette. There's no replacement for cops actually walking a beat and working at becoming a trusted part of the neighborhood instead of law enforcement being effective at being a nuisance and earning peoples' dislike and distrust. Written by Richard P.
on 8/4/2008
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Again Noladude; Insightful understanding and perfect presentation on the subject..... God help the stupid azz who utilizes free will and common sense, and makes a left turn or a right turn or whatever when the coast is clear, but there is a camera present to record its crime against humanity..... All because that person doesn't feel the need for a light to dictate its every movement or judgement it makes in life.... Written by
on 8/4/2008
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Sorry, Jeff, dear, we belive that these cameras (crime and red light) are essential in this day and age. The problem is that they are not working and that is the fault of the city government. Do we smell more stench from public corruption. Mayor Worm should get to work and see that things are done right. In addition complaining about not be forewarned by the Inspector General of New Orleans by the City Attorney is another example of stupidity and failure to allow the IG to do his job as set up. Is there something more to fear, Mr. Worm. Written by RhettsWife
on 8/4/2008
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Good news indeed. More money from red lights will go to the city so that Mr. Nagin can take his wife to lunch at expensive restaurants more often. Even more good news; Mr Nagin can use the crime stats to preach his philosphy of high murder rate and crime figures being good branding for the city. I just can't understand why, with such good news, we have so much problem getting tourists and conventions to this fair city.
PS. he could take his relative, Mr Smith to lunch to work deals too Written by noladude
on 8/4/2008
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In 
