This observation trailer was set up Thursday by the Albany police. The view on Thursday evening is east along Second Avenue. The old city hall is on the right.
I had some questions about the surveillance trailer set up at Broadalbin Street and Second Avenue downtown, the subject of last night’s story. The answers came today from Chuck Perino, the City of Albany emergency manager and safety officer.
As I had guessed, the observation trailer was set up in advance of the downtown Albany block party scheduled Saturday afternoon and evening. The event is likely to draw thousands of people.
In an extensive email, Perino described the purpose and use of the equipment. Here’s an excerpt:
“This observation trailer provides an effective way for the city to monitor events in real time. The trailer can send images to a command post and first responders have access to the cameras from their cell phones. The cameras can be moved, zoomed-in and serve a great purpose in deterring crime and providing essential information in real-time. A good example of this was a suspicious looking person in a mask and bulky clothing at the Pride Festival. Using the camera at the command post for the event, responders were able to identify the person and send an officer immediately via radio to check on them. Luckily, the person was doing nothing wrong and was just enjoying the event, but that incident showed the application of this trailer for security. The trailer could also be incredibly helpful in locating a lost child with the bird’s-eye view.”
In 2022, Albany got a grant of $90,000 from the federal Department of Homeland Security under a program to help local governments buy equipment to respond to disasters and incidents of terrorism.
The city paid $84,000 for the trailer and related equipment. The rest of the grant went for road cones and nine large water-filled barriers designed to stop vehicles from slamming into crowds.
Perino points out that around the country and the world, local festivals and similar events have been attacked. Albany has tried to coordinate security measures for such events just in case. He mentioned the just-concluded Art and Air Festival, the Veterans Day parade, the Pride event in June, and now the block party.
“The observation trailer adds a lot of real-time capability to our efforts,” he said. (hh)
Hummm… 1984 for sure…
Sad that this is what the world has come to can’t go out and enjoy yourself in your own community.
I’m incredulous…..a suspicious looking person in a mask and bulky clothing?
I’m reminded of a quote from Ludwig von Mises.
“Once the principle is admitted that it is the duty of the government to protect the individual against his own foolishness, no serious objections can be advanced against further encroachments.”
Where are the bulky clothed patriots willing to protect their city from a prying, privacy violating government?
When city residents won’t protect themselves, and depends solely on government to do it for them, can those residents ever complain when that same government decides to protect itself against them?
I hope nobody wears “suspicious” clothing at the block party. It could get ugly.
So they already admit they are profiling people.
What is their data retention policy?
This is being recorded, who has access?
Who decides when and where it’s deployed? Is that information available to the public?
Too many unasked and unanswered questions.