The Gilroy Downtown Business Association and the Gilroy Police
Department are partnering to install security cameras along
Monterey Road downtown, a project both groups said should improve
the perception of downtown safety. Full article
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Visitors to Downtown Gilroy might soon have a reason to smile: Their every move could be captured on camera.
The Gilroy Downtown Business Association and the Gilroy Police Department are partnering to install security cameras along Monterey Road downtown, a project both groups said should improve the perception of downtown safety and draw more people to the area.
“After they put the cameras in, there’s not going to be any excuse for people not to go downtown,” Gilroy City Councilman Dion Bracco said. “That will be the safest place in Gilroy.”
Last month, the downtown business association board voted unanimously to approve $20,000 to help pay for the installation of six security cameras downtown, DBA President Eric Howard said. The plan hinges on an additional $30,000 from the City of Gilroy, which the GPD will request at the next regular City Council meeting June 6, Howard said.
GPD Chief Denise Turner said the cameras would help deter crime downtown and ease the minds of those who visit the area.
The cameras – which have 360-degree rotation capability and the ability to pan, tilt and zoom – will be elevated above Monterey Road at six different intersections, Turner said.
“If something does occur, we’ll be able to immediately or later on look up the video and see what happens,” Turner said. “It gives us more eyes. We don’t have that many people patrolling the downtown. This will help us keep an eye on things.”
She added, “I think it will improve the perception. People are going to feel more safe downtown all hours of the day and night.”
Local developer and business owner Gary Walton said some residents could fear being monitored every time they visit downtown, but most people would likely accept the new cameras.
“Nobody is going to watch 24 hours of video unless something major happens,” Walton said. “I don’t think it’s going to bother anybody. I’m sure there’ll be some complaints about Big Brother, but that’s today’s world.”
Councilman Bob Dillon said he didn’t have a problem with installing cameras downtown, saying, “They are going up just about everywhere these days.”
When told the city would be asked to contribute $30,000 to see the project through, Dillon paused.
“My first inclination is to say no,” he said. “I’ll have to think it over.”
Howard said an initial test camera would be installed soon, and the others would be placed as soon as funding was secured.
With dozens of unoccupied unreinforced masonry structures and the perception that the area is dim, uninviting and unsafe, downtown has been a focus of the city for months.
On May 16, the City Council officially approved a new seismic safety ordinance that would allow building owners to purchase less expensive life safety retrofits, instead of full ones, before reopening their buildings.
Councilman Peter Leroe-Munoz said a heightened feeling of safety could mean better business for downtown.
“With that comes the increase of safety but it also bring additional business. It could grow business by having more people come down there because they feel safe,” he said.
