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Wilkes-Barre, Pa., Times Leader, Casey Jones Column: Maybe Sneaky Cameras Not so Bad After All

Posted on: Tuesday, 24 January 2006, 12:00 CST

By Casey Jones, Wilkes-Barre, Pa., Times Leader

Jan. 24--rom time to time, when I got absolutely nothing to do, I watch the cars go by on channel 77 on the Service Electric cable system.

The channel has no real programming, no announcers, no commercials, no formal name. It exists to broadcast live video feeds from cameras mounted beside key roads and intersections in the Wilkes-Barre area. I just call it the Traffic Channel.

It's kind of boring to watch unless there's black ice or a blizzard, but for people too lazy to look out the window to check the weather, the cameras provide a valuable public service.

Plus, motorists find the broadcast helpful in avoiding those maddening Wilkes-Barre traffic jams (I'm being sarcastic).

And you can even use the channel to amaze your friends and family. At least I did.

If you were watching the Traffic Channel at 2 p.m. Monday you caught my live performance from the Market Street Bridge.

I was walking on the sidewalk on the west side of the bridge, searching for the camera and talking on the phone with my daughter, who was watching on TV.

"Can you see me," I asked. "Can you see me now?"

Finally, I spied the camera housed in a rectangular metal case that hung from a wire attached to a light pole. It was show time.

I waved to Grandma and the kids.

I mouthed "Hello, Wilkes-Barre" to the viewing audience.

I made a poor attempt at a pirouette, scratched "Hi" in the snow, struck a Heisman Trophy pose.

It was fun. I should have taped it. I guess cameras in public places aren't so bad after all.

Getting a better view

I've always been a hardcore privacy advocate.

There was a time when I gave security cameras the finger as a matter of course.

And I have used this space to condemn all sorts of attacks on our freedom, including Big Brother Tom Leighton's plan to put surveillance cameras on the streets of Wilkes-Barre.

If that's what you have to do to stop crime, I said -- if we can't walk in Wilkes-Barre without being watched -- well, we might as well give the bad guys the key to the city and move to Mountain Top.

But, in light of the city's increasing crime problem, it's increasingly hard to argue against the cameras.

As soon as you complain, camera advocates say "Why should you care, unless you have something to hide."

So I give up. They're right. Why should I care?

But the cameras shouldn't be for cops' eyes only. Wilkes-Barre should structure its surveillance camera program to allow for a live broadcast to city residents, just like the Traffic Channel.

That way, people in South Wilkes-Barre could actually see if the coast is clear before they make a run for their car.

Convenience store clerks could actually see the bad guys coming, and have the cash ready and waiting.

Nervous parents could watch their kids walk home from school.

And, as a show of good faith to privacy advocates, maybe the mayor would be willing to mount a camera in his own office.

That way, the public could watch him work, and make sure he's earning his big salary.

I'm sure he wouldn't mind.

After all, why should he care … unless he has something to hide.

Call Casey Jones at 829-7215 or e-mail cjones@leader.net [mailto:cjones@leader.net]

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Copyright (c) 2006, Wilkes-Barre, Pa., Times Leader

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Source: The Times Leader (Wilkes-Barre, Pa.)

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