By Alana Frank
Theme Editor
The Manhattan Beach City Council approved the installation of a new security system throughout the town in order to create a stronger network of surveillance. However, the decision to improve the town’s safety through the surveillance system has raised concerns about its necessity among some community members.
This particular project which has been in its final stages in the past months, had its initial staffer talks happening in 2020. According to the Daily Breeze and Public Works Director Erick Lee, the decision to install a new security system was due to frequent disturbances around many of the city’s municipal facilities. Many residents want more cameras due to younger kids skateboarding, biking, and loitering around public areas.
The construction of the security system is expected to span many months, with construction beginning in November and the expectation that it will be finished in June. The installation will be completed in three phases by BlueViolet Networks with the first two phases costing $523,820. According to the Daily Breeze, the decision to spend this amount of money and have the cameras installed were supported by a large number of staffers. Nevertheless, concerns linger about potential misuse or abuse of the technology, raising some doubts.
Notably, the maintenance crews will not only update the current security system, but they will also install 28 new surveillance cameras at City Hall and 17 at the public works yard. This is only phase one of the project. The second phase will include 53 cameras at both police and fire facilities with the final phase including installation in the Joslyn Community Center, Live Oak Park, and the Manhattan Heights Community Center. The installation of cameras in these common areas is unnecessary as there have been low crime rates and disturbances.
According to Daily Breeze, reports from this project marks the beginning of a much larger endeavor as there are hopes to add more cameras in business areas. Additionally, there is a concern from community members for cameras in public spaces rather than just buildings, recent trespassing incidents in police and fire department property which demonstrates the positives of installing the surveillance system.
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