I am Ready for My Close Up, Mr. DeMille

The American Civil Liberty Union (ACLU) describes itself as, “our nation's guardian of liberty, working daily in courts, legislatures and communities to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties that the Constitution and laws of the United States guarantee everyone in this country.” They emphasize the right, “to privacy - freedom from unwarranted government intrusion into your personal and private affairs.” So are surveillance cameras in public places an intrusion? They think so, I don’t.


The ACLU’s latest foray into Chicago is their calling for a moratorium of the City of Chicago expanding its video-surveillance system. Chicago’s network of more than 10,000 public and private cameras is the most extensive and integrated in the country.

Last week the ACLU issued a report that said, “Chicago’s camera network invades the freedom to be anonymous in public places.” Wait a second! If one is in a PUBLIC place, how can they expect PRIVACY? They are out in PUBLIC! Everyone can already see them face to face! So one’s anonymity is already breached! The only way someone could walk around in PUBLIC and not be seen is if everyone else were wearing a blindfold!

I support having as many cameras as possible aimed at me as I traverse the city, it proves where I am at a particular moment in time and provides an eye-witness account of what happened if I am mugged or robbed.

When it was announced last year that former Chicago Public School Board President Michael Scott was found dead in the Chicago River, I first assumed that he must have been taken hostage and killed. But because of Chicago’s extensive camera system, it was proven that he drove himself to the river bank and committed suicide. There was no foul play involved.

Chicago’s Office of Emergency Management and Communications (OEMC) Executive Director, Jose Santiago, issued a rebuttal to the ACLU. “The cameras supplement the work of police personnel in the field, and save local taxpayers money by freeing up police resources to protect other areas not covered by surveillance cameras The City of Chicago’s extensive surveillance camera network operates on the public way. The cameras are not monitored 24 hours a day unless there is an ongoing law enforcement investigation utilizing the cameras in the area. The cameras have helped the Chicago Police Department solve over 4,500 crimes since 2006. In addition, the presence of cameras has prevented an untold number of crimes, because their presence sends the message that you will be caught if you commit a crime within sight of a camera.”

The ACLU report also said that the millions of dollars spent on cameras could have been used to put more officers on the street. WRONG!! According to OEMC, “Operation Virtual Shield cameras were funded by Department of Homeland Security grants at no cost to local taxpayers or impact to the City’s budget. These funds could not be used to hire traditional public safety personnel, such as police officers.”

So who do we believe on the money issue? The ACLU or OEMC? I am going with OEMC on this one.

I am grateful that Chicago has such an extensive system except for the fact that I have to do my hair and make-up every time I leave the house. I don’t want to get caught not looking my prettiest when it is time for my close-up.