In an unsigned gawd-awful piece of reporting, in which the author makes a number of unattributed assertions*, the (Greensboro, NC) News & Record reports that unnamed "bench advocates put in a camera bought with private money" to photograph people on the Greenway benches.
What? Who are these people with a camera trained on public benches? Who is collecting the photographs it takes and what are they doing with them? Are city representatives among the "bench advocates" and have they lent some sort of quasi official sanction to this vigilante surveillance?
I have emailed N&R reporter Amanda Lehmert and editor John Robinson and asked them to clarify.
(*In addition to the unnamed "bench advocates," the story also asserts, without attribution or explanation, that the words inscribed on the benches are "words that mean much to Warnersville residents," and that the unnamed "folks involved want to keep those benches beside Warnersville.")
Update: Amanda informs me it was Jeri Rowe who wrote the piece. I have emailed him asking for comment too.
I believe cameras are ineffective and expensive. Someone can just keep destroying the camera.
ReplyDelete--brandonB
Hi Roch. I would add that the column is not unsigned. The bottom of the piece always says who contributed to it. -Amanda
ReplyDeleteIn a post with multiple items, a list of contributors is not much help in determining who wrote the piece in question, which is unsigned.
ReplyDeleteWhat do you expect from the News and Record? I think someone with the means to start a REAL news paper could make a good living in Greensboro.
ReplyDelete--brandonB
Amazing, how so many people who have never stepped foot in Warnersville and is now so concerned about Warnersville.
ReplyDeleteSeems like the anti-Greenway folks is going to pimp Warnersville for all its worth. I hope my neighbors don't fall for the trap.
Yes, I am a PROUD Warnersville resident and am EXTREMELY happy that something new and good is coming to this forgotten community with one of Greensboro's richest history.
As always the MAN (troublemaker) is going to use black people for political gain.
The Man takes away the benches to score political points, but the problem will still be there after the election.
Just curious. Did your commenters even know where the Hell Warnersville was before the bench situation?
Look pal, all I am saying is this: Your neighborhood has a problem with crime. Cameras, that can easily be destroyed and not so easily replaced, are, I believe, and ineffective deterrent. In my opinion, it's up to the residents to put a stop to it. Some residents have suggested removing the benches, as has the mayor.
ReplyDelete--brandon b
You don't want the rest of the city involved? If the city ignored the crime problem, then we would be hit with "No one cares about Warnersville."
ReplyDeletebrandon b
Mayor Johnson said to TEMPORARily removed the benches. troublemaker wants them gone period.He needs some black votes I guess. Lord knows Glenwood alone won't put him on council.
ReplyDeleteI would love to have the city address crime issues in all parts of the city, but I DO NOT WANT my community used as a political pawn during an election cycle and then forgotten about once again.
I would love to give you a tour of my beautiful community. You just might be pleasantly surprised at what you find. But I'm sure that's not your point or interest though.
Do you children have any thoughts on the quality of the N&R's article or on the installation of private surveillance equipment trained on public property?
ReplyDeleteI did comment on the article. I think the news and record, with it's low standard regarding reporting, could easily be shut down by a real newspaper.
ReplyDeleteThe way I see it: it's public property. I remember some youtube videos of a guy running up to vehicles containing johns and hookers and filming them. These people would be just parked on the side of the road, or at the park, in daylight.
I worry more about the fact that criminals feel they can conduct business out in the open.
I think the camera is ineffective. It will do nothing to stop anything. The citizens need to go out there and run the hookers off when they bring johns back there.
--brandon b
Roch, the camera was paid for by private money. The city has nothing to do with it. These are people taking control of their neighborhood to keep it clean. Who could oppose that?
ReplyDeleteBrandon, yes you did comment on the cameras themselves. I overlooked that.
ReplyDeleteAnon, sure, that's one way of looking at it (although you assume some details that are not substantiated). The other side of the coin is, if you walk down a public street or park, would you mind if I surveil you?
Roch,
ReplyDeleteI just took a ride down the Greenway and have done a short write-up: http://bit.ly/Elzj. I hope, that in the near future, the same amount of attention is given to the Health Serve parking lot where people openly consume alcohol and lay around all day.
Note: I saw 12 people laying inside the Health Serve parking lot and another 10 - 15 outside on the sidewalk. A grand total of one person (other than myself) was on the Greenway.
Ryan Shell
Link provided via bit.ly was bad. This should get you to the post: http://bit.ly/ElzjU.
ReplyDeleteRyan
Cameras are one solution (once we get past the who pays for them and who runs them and what's done with the images). There are other solutions that could be considered as well. I congratulate people who want to solve problems and make neighborhoods better and want to give them a chance (and the benefit of the doubt). Yes, I'd like more facts.
ReplyDeleteBut I think the real question may be how to eliminate (or greatly reduce) the illegal activity itself in that location. While Roch's crit of the story is valid (too many unanswered questions), the illegal behavior is the underlying problem.
Shining a light (or a camera) on areas often moves the criminals away (hopefully out of GSO but I'm an idealist).
God bless you Ryan. As a Warnersville resident what you saw was an accurate picture.
ReplyDeleteHealthserv and Urban Ministries is the problem.If the benches were removed the same problems will exist.
One can not blame the residents for using the benches as an excuse to draw attention to a problem that has existed for YEARS.