Homeland Security paid for these police cameras overlooking downtown, but not for an officer to monitor them. So they are only good at catching criminals after the fact. And maybe it was worth it, they did catch the man stealing money from the parking meters.
The police installed the cameras without any public announcement, and no civic debate. We found out by accident that they existed. Then they wouldn't tell us where they were. I had to walk the streets and find them myself.
Whether or not we have street cameras is less of a concern to me then that the police thought there was no need to inform the public that they were there. Without newspapers, how will the public hold authorities accountable for what they do ? Bloggers?