HPD has told City Council that its approval isn’t needed for downtown surveillance cameras, according to a local media outlet. I’d link to the story, but since we have been informed that we can no longer link to or excerpt from this particular news outlet without written permission, I’ll have to forego it.
But here’s a KHOU-11 story on the topic, where we learn that volunteers could one day monitor the video from the surveillance cameras.
VOLUNTEERS! Oh my!
UPDATE (07-11-2006): Here’s a Chronicle story with more:
The project does not require council approval because the management district is paying for the cameras, which will be installed at sites on and around Main Street.
The Houston Police Department will work with the Management District to use the cameras in law enforcement.
The department hopes to secure federal funds to expand the surveillance program to other downtown locations, said HPD Executive Assistant Chief Martha Montalvo. That would require council approval.
What Chief Hurtt is counting on is that once the first set of cameras are up and running, Council won’t put up a fuss about approving more cameras.
