Blogmaster notes: For homeland security reason's, this is not the actual security camera.
The camera system is up and running at the Block building. We have tried several times to download the recorded information on cds, but there is a technical problem transferring data to my computer. The next planned step is to have the camera company set up an e-mail service that can send the recorded data out, and Supervisor Chris Hill said that this will be available "soon".
Chris Hill told me he can now identify who lives in the building when people hang out at odd hours and he isn't there. He stated that they will evict tenants whom they observe doing illegal behavior.
He is also planning for the installation early next week of an additional camera in the Lunt side lobby of the building. Currently there are the two on the west outside corners, along with one in the Morse lobby.
These cameras point only in the direction they are aimed at, and allow about a 45 to 55 degree viewing area. This view spreads out well enough to see the sidewalk, doors and street, but cannot in the case of street activity see everything. Rotating the cameras would fix that but remove coverage from the front doors.
That said there have been several arrests in the past three days. Chris Hill initiated the police action Margot reported, and he told me he wasn't required by the officers to sign a complaint, apparently because the illegal activity was occurring on the public way.
I witnessed an altercation in the Lunt lobby between police officers and loiterers on Tuesday, and in that instance the initial offenders ran off before backup could arrive. Chris said that those offenders, seen on tape, absolutely do not stay in the building.
After this incident, the officers pulled across the viaduct and waited, and then apprehended two people from a car that was parked across the street. They did not live in the building either, and may simply have been taken into custody for not having identification. They were moving some furniture from the building but stayed parked in front of the fire hydrant long enough to make the police suspicious.
Mr. Block also told me that two tenants were arrested recently for outstanding felony warrants, and that he has started the eviction process for them both. I have their names, and as soon as I can get the names of the others, especially the individuals arrested for loitering and drinking, we are going to do some court advocacy to let the police know we support their efforts.
I have overheard several passers-by caution each other about the new cameras. I expect to see some new location for the drug selling, so lets all watch for that. Also, Chris Hill may be a convenient target for retaliation by these criminals, so if anyone sees people pointing him out or observing him please say something.
Finally, several of my friends have been stopped and interrogated by the police in the last week. This is unfortunate and certainly unpleasant, but for now anyone seen near this building will probably be noticed. It is important for everyone to know that not having valid identification could result in your being taken into custody. Its one more inconvenience for us because this situation got so out of hand.
James Ginderske
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