The city of Greensboro is delaying a proposal to put 21 high-tech surveillance cameras throughout the downtown area.
A City Council work session Thursday left staff members divided on the idea.
Interim Police Chief Anita Holder said the wireless cameras, which would cost about $67K, could help curb crime, I.D. suspects, and make people feel safer.
But as the News and Record reports, several city staff members were worried about the implications of the proposal.
Mayor Nancy Vaughan expressed concerns that Greensboro would be turned into a surveillance state.
Another councilman was worried about privacy issues, because the cameras could zoom in on private homes.
Councilman Zack Metheny disagreed, saying that if any police officer or city employee abused the cameras to look into people's homes, the problem would be with that person and not the technology.
Councilman Mike Barber said that Greensboro could distinguish itself by allowing the footage to be part of the public record, making it the only city in the country to do so.
Some city staff members also said that cameras should be installed citywide, and not just in the downtown area.
In the end, council members decided to table the issue and revisit the proposal to address all of these concerns.
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