LIVININTHELOIN

Video cameras that monitor high-crime areas in San Francisco and sophisticated sensors that can pinpoint the location of gunshots could shut off in the next few months, as a Board of Supervisors committee cut the money on Thursday to maintain the crime-fighting gadgets.

The cuts came on the final day of deliberations by the Budget and Finance Committee, which for two weeks has deliberated over Mayor Gavin Newsom’s proposed budget. Supervisors on the committee have used that time to make cuts in the mayor’s proposal. They worked late into the night Thursday to spend the money instead on some of the programs Newsom targeted for reductions.

In a 3-2 vote, the committee sliced just under $360,000 that Newsom wanted for installations and repairs of the anti-crime devices, citing what they said was a lack of evidence that the cameras and sensors were effective.

The money could be restored by the full Board of Supervisors, which must finalize the budget next month.

“It is incumbent on us to prove (the devices) have resulted in something,” said Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi, who voted against the funding with supervisors Chris Daly and Jake McGoldrick. Part of Mirkarimi’s district includes the Western Addition, which is one of the testing grounds of the gunshot-spotting technology… — SFGate

Are supervisors Daly, Mirkarimi, and McGoldrick so out of touch that they don’t know a surveillance camera led to the arrest of Edwin Ramos? Romas was quickly arrested in connection to the recent triple “road rage” homicide. Proof positive that cameras help solve violent crime in The City. There are also cameras in the Board of Supervisors’ chamber (SFGTV), recording the negligent, if not criminal, activity our elected officials engage in. Eliminating funding for crime prevention programs that work is just criminal! What next, cut the number of police on the force? — livinintheloin