Via AJC:

Big Brother is coming to Atlanta. Or is it a watchful eye that will make walking city streets safer? On Monday, the Atlanta City Council approved a measure to network and monitor thousands of public and privately owned security cameras throughout Atlanta.

Estimated start-up costs are the mid $2 million range, funded by federal grants from the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Justice. As expected, the city has no idea of annual operational costs, but “…the Council is committed to establishing virtually blanket video monitoring of the city.”

While this will surely stabilize the revenue stream generated by citing non-poop-picker-uppers in Piedmont Park, it may also drive criminals (and their more heinous acts) out of camera range. Actual crime isn’t reduced, just rearranged.

This is sure to stir up a hornet’s nest of opinion. Have at it.