After months of discussion and delays, the Hermosa Beach City Council voted unanimously last week to approve the placement of surveillance cameras in Pier Plaza.
The vote awarded a bid to the Sierra Group, who will install both the cameras and the monitoring software. The matter had been continued from two meetings, on August 26 and November 13 of this year.
After presentations by both police Chief Sharon Papa and a representative from the Sierra Group, the council listened to public comments on the issue.
James Wilcox of Hermosa Beach spoke against the idea of surveillance, focusing on the problems of security breaches.
“Hackers know how to defeat the cameras you are going to put up,” he said. “This is what happens when you have internet protocol cameras like you have proposed. Build one that’s secure and I might even support that. Please do the right thing tonight and do not approve this.”
Former council member Jeff Duclos spoke in favor of the camera program.
After months of discussion and delays, the Hermosa Beach City Council last week voted unanimously last week to approve the placement of surveillance cameras in Pier Plaza.
“There are fights that break out all the time [on Pier Plaza],” he said. “Video cameras are definitely a deterrent. This is ridiculous that you have deferred this for so long. There is something you can do to make the residents and guests of our city safer. Put cameras where our officers can’t be.”
Hermosa Beach resident Jess Leary also spoke in favor of the cameras. She told the council that she had been drugged at a charity event on the pier last month and was followed back to her home and burglarized.
“I urge you to put some kind of camera system in place,” she said. “If it can happen to me, it can happen to anyone.”
After a brief discussion, Mayor Pete Tucker called for a vote and the cameras were approved 5 to 0.
“I’ve always supported this camera program downtown for safety,” Mayor Tucker said. “If we get rid one of one rape, these have done their job. This will improve the quality of life on the plaza.”
