RENDERING OF THE PROPOSED LINCOLN PARK

Big Brother in Lincoln Park

The City of Miami Beach Approves a $13 million budget for Lincoln Park Project — Along With 16 Cameras to Surveil it All

By Eleanor Mcculloch

The Special Meeting of the Miami Beach City Commission on Wednesday, May 26 should have been as simple as approving the $13,085,000 budget already well-vetted by staff.

However, a curious issue threw a wrench into that building budget plan — commissioners and the mayor were deeply troubled by the New World Symphony’s late stage addition of 16 surveillance cameras slated to record every angle of the park. The plans include expensive audio and video equipment to allow those in the park adjacent to the new NWS campus to watch building-sized performances from outside.

The addition of the cameras — which are not planned to facilitate live monitoring, only recording for subpoenaed use in later investigations should a crime occur — sparked a debate over the privacy of park-goers. The addition of monitors for the recording equipment could give the City the ability to surveil citizens in real time.

The idea for the cameras came at the recommendation of the NWS representatives as a means of ‘protecting the investment,’ of the park and equipment. The City consulted with two former Chiefs of Police, who both recommended use of the cameras, staff testified. Many supporters feel them necessary due to the nighttime events proposed for the park.

Mayor Matti Bower was an early opponent of the cameras, offering the foresight that residents will begin to demand video systems in all city parks — effectively opening a Pandora’s Box of government surveillance. She cited the problems experienced around the globe, such as those in Great Britain where widespread recording of citizens in public areas had become the generally accepted norm for Londoners. However, public outrage over the roughly 5 million cameras recording London streets now has residents considering them less as the deterrent they were once considered, and more as an invasive investigating tool.

City Manager Jorge Gonzalez said although he, too, was quite tossed up over the installation of the cameras, “this park is unique enough to warrant it.” Commissioner Michael Gongora echoed that the nature of the design for Lincoln Park made the case for the cameras “a unique situation.”

“I don’t want anyone to think that we’re going to start putting cameras everywhere,” Gongora said.

Mayor Bower was unimpressed with the argument that Lincoln Park is special and wouldn’t have residents clamoring for cameras in other places.

The Mayor also was disturbed that some city officials attempt to cloud the issue by making it all about the deterrence of vandalism of the audio/visual equipment.

Bower cited the ‘protection’ of residents supposedly provided by the newly installed red light camera system. In reality, “it is for the money,” Bower said, referring to the ticketing revenue generated from alleged red light runners. Bower was upset officials “tell me [the NWS cameras are] to ‘protect the investment,’” Bower said.

“Then why aren’t we protecting the $24 million investment in [newly renovated] South Pointe Park? This sets a precedent…. If you want to protect the screens, focus the cameras on those.”

Other options were considered, city staff said, such as having a cop roam the grounds 24-hours a day. Staff said the cost of that would be “astronomical,” however. Design Review Board Member Gabrielle Redfern also raised issues with the adequacy and location of the parks two public restrooms. However, architects from West 8, the Dutch firm commissioned to design the park, opined that adding features would detract from the intimate nature of the setting, calling it an “urban garden.”

Ultimately, the budget was approved, leaving construction firm Hines, and Valley Crest Landscape Development to move forward with steps leading to the construction of the park. The park is slated to be completed by late December.

Bower, who still disapproved of such widespread video surveillance in the park, offered the lone ‘nay’ vote.
“I feel like Big Brother — like Big Brother, and Big Daddy too,” Bower said.

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