City Council questions crime cameras

From Sunshine Review

25 June 2008

[edit] Camera effectiveness questioned

Despite the huge sums of money pumped into it, the New Orleans crime cameras program never lived up to the promises of Mayor Ray Nagin. The city counsel took up the matter and began an investigation, which was mostly met with ignored requests for documentation.

Now it has been revealed that Alabama-based LSI Research Inc., the company hired to install and operate the cameras, may never have had the required state contractor's license. The company is currently under investigation by city attorneys.

Councilwoman Stacy S. Head said that the company claimed it had the license, when in fact it never did. The council cites other unexplained issues as well, such as the city overpaying for the cameras themselves. Head stated, "The unit price of the cameras, under the contract is $6237.50. However, at times we're paying $8,500, per camera in a number of invoices we have."^[1]

Chief Technology Officer Anthony Jones was unable to provide an answer.

[edit] References

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