A mobile security camera was placed at the Norfolk Avenue Streetery in Bethesda this weekend. The solar-powered unit is overlooking the block closed to automobile traffic for outdoor dining between St. Elmo and Cordell Avenues. Similar units have been deployed in downtown Silver Spring this year by Montgomery County. Private businesses in Bethesda like CVS Pharmacy have utilized a different type of mobile camera unit, a talking robot, for several years as crime has spiked in the area.
The one-eyed harbinger of things to come. We cannot even address what the threat is.
ReplyDeleteWho'll be watching the transmissions from this camera?
ReplyDeleteWill they being watched live, or only reviewed after something's happened?
This is excellent news. The Streetery has been getting crazy dangerous lately. There's the guy who climbed up onto the roof and started vandalizing all the signage for the stores. That same guy has grabbed two children (getting arrested the second time, then back on the street the next day). There's the crazy guy who goes into Olazzo and screams at customers. They call the cops on him daily, but all they do is write citations. There's the racist guy on the bike drinking his Budwiesers. He's been banned from almost every storefront and restaurant on the Streetery and nearby. There are fistfights almost daily. Half of these people sleep on the Streetery. We need somebody to take action!
ReplyDelete6:14am If true, Olazzo should get a no trespass order on the person who is regularly disruptive.
DeleteI have seen unhoused people sleeping on the streetery tables. Which is fine, but something to think about when eating at those tables.
Cmon, that’s not fine.
DeleteLipstick on a pig. I love that line. This will result in nothing. This was also done at the CVS on Wisc. Did the camera pole there stop the thief from literally walking right out of the store with an arm load of laundry detergent? No. Did the camera pole in the parking lot at Home Depot across from the mall net any arrests there? Not that any arrests have ever been reported. This does nothing and is essentially a sign or a poster. They could save a lot of money and put up a giant sign that says, "Neighborhood Watch in Effect". Defund, demoralize the police, soft on crime prosecutors, judges, etc are all to blame for this. Period. How absolutely awful to see this in one of the most educated and affluent parts of the entire country.
ReplyDelete6:14 - I wish it were good news. But as you correctly stated here, nothing has happened to curb this craziness and this camera setup won't either. The county does this to show the public they are doing something when they aren't. Look at the numbers of recruits for MoCo police. They aren't any really. It's bad. With no cops and a soft on crime approach, this is what you get. We'll look like Seattle or Austin soon. Lastly, you said something interesting that could be corrected right away. You said people are sleeping in the Streetery. By closing that stupid thing and opening up the street to traffic again would solve that part right away. They won't even consider closing that stretch seasonally. So we all suffer getting around that mess when no one uses it because it's 20 degrees out in a very short, few months. Great!
ReplyDeleteBe damned if you do, or don't. The pearl clutchers are never to be satisfied. @9:31, what threat are you looking for? This measure is aimed at crime prevention. @6:14, those are interesting incidents you list, funny that they never appear in any of the crime reports on this site. I wonder why? Could it be that they are committed by those of the same race as the reporter, so embarrassing. @6:39, the usual white/red whine from JAC, never satisfied as all conservatives are. Never has a real solution to anything.
ReplyDelete8:35 - Oh yes, those nasty Conservatives. Their opinions do not apply. A sad but common refrain. Solutions? I gave two above.
ReplyDelete9:57 - Typical of this age, changing the language. "unhoused people"? You mean homeless.
ReplyDeleteSleeping on tables, where people eat outdoors, is fine? You're kidding, right? You have got to be kidding me?
Still no answers to, Who installed this camera? Who'll be watching the images? In real time?
ReplyDeleteI don't see any "Police" stickers on it, so was it put there by BethesdaUP?
I don't oppose the camera, but shouldn't someone be providing these answers to us?
10:43 - Um, Big Brother? Your question is a valid one. If my family and I are walking around that area, minding our own business, are we being captured on camera? Does the video recording get wiped each day if all is well? Very valid points
ReplyDeleteGet rid of the streetery already.
ReplyDeleteVoice your displeasure to Bethesda UP and the representatives of this state who refuse to listen to those of us in that have businesses in the area.
Closing off the street and removing parking hurts the local businesses, the homeless are rampant and I'm surprised they haven't set up their tents there, and it's insane how much more panhandling and vagrancy is going on.