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Cameras come at a major cost

Editor: Re: The times they are a-changing, July 12 letters.

Editor:

Re: The times they are a-changing, July 12 letters.

Upon reading the letter from White Rock Coun. Larry Robinson, regarding cameras on the beach, a number of things became obvious.

It would seem he wants to sell on the idea of privacy-second, with mere aspersions of illegal acts. Without the due care and diligence of an assessment report, required by provincial laws governing the use of cameras in public places, he is placing the cart before the horse.

Robinson fails to understand that police presence has always been a valuable deterrent in the community, and it is no different with foot patrols on the pier.

The fear mongering he is advancing towards supporting fellow Coun. Al Campbell is not well-founded on existing statistical data. I suspect Campbell has become silent on his motion likely as a result of strong public opposition to it.

What Robinson is really telling us – “that we have only two bylaw officers on duty for the whole city” – is that he is focused on bylaw crime and not criminal-code offences.

City of White Rock bylaw officers are not mandated to enforce the many railway issues he advanced in his heartstring-pulling letter to the editor, nor does there exist substantial statistical data of fatalities or injuries taking place at the beach related to train movement. Where the train traffic originates and what it carries matters not.

Robinson’s letter, as well, seems to have trains only going one way and does not mention they also travel south with our softwood lumber – this representing employment important to us as Canadians.

RCMP crime statistics fail to support the requirement for cameras. But as stated by Robinson recently on a radio show, our city is comparable to that of Pleasantville.

The bottom line here is you can’t have it both ways, Coun. Robinson, and that Orwell had it right in provoking thoughts on the erosion of one’s privacy in today’s society.

Ron Eves, White Rock

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It always amazes me how people welcome more government involvement and intrusion into their lives. The case of the proposal to install waterfront cameras at White Rock is a case in point.

Yes, having cameras there may add to public safety in some picayune way, just like having a camera in your kitchen in case there’s a flash fire or adding one in your bathroom in case you hit your heat on the toilet.

But how much of a difference will it make? And at what cost?

I assume those cameras and their monitoring won’t be free.

Perhaps Coun. Larry Robinson could take a little time away from touting the advantages of these cameras and explain to his constituents how much this will add to their yearly tax bill.

Pierre Home-Douglas, Dorval, Que.