Alaska Hamlet Gets 80 Surveillance Cameras From DHS

[Coexist]

Great article:

http://uspolitics.about.com/b/a/207637.htm

Alaska Hamlet Gets 80 Surveillance Cameras From DHS, Which Now Has A Faith-Based Initiative

<snip>
Dillingham, Alaska (map, population: 2,400) is installing 80 surveillance camers, at the port and "around town," courtesy of a $202,000 Department of Homeland Security grant. The town is so small, it has no street lights. (tip)

Whereas Anchorage (map, population: 260,000) has fewer than 40 cameras for its port.

No blame should come to Police Chief Richard Thompson for applying for the grant. But hard questions should be directed to DHS's Chertoff, who has funneled $40 million into Alaska in the last three years. Alaska is second to Wyoming in per capita DHS monies, checking in at three times California. Reminds one of the bridge to nowhere.

<snip>
I don't see the connection with terrorism, the primary reason the President gave for creating DHS in 2002: "I ask the Congress to join me in creating a single permanent department with an overriding and urgent mission -- securing the American homeland and protecting the American people."

[roguevalley]

1. my aunt and uncle used to teach in Dillingham. One year during

break up, the ground was so soft, a vw bug was buried alive in a sort spot in one of the few roads. it probably still is there.

[shance]

2. Is the HAARP facility by chance close to Hamlet?

n/t

[Blue_In_AK]

3. No, HAARP is up in the Interior, I believe.

Dillingham is a Southwest Alaska fishing village. From what I understand, the people there are not too happy about having Big Brother spying on them.

[noonwitch]

4. Sounds like the perfect target for middle eastern terrorists to strike!

Although the pipeline probably would be a good target to get our gas prices to $5 a gallon.

[Blue_In_AK]

5. The pipeline has very little security.

Here's my husband last summer (NOT a terrorist, by the way, but if he had been, look at the damage he could have done)...

[northofdenali]

14. Remember the guy from Coldfoot a few years back

who shot a hole in it with his .380? I think he got like 15 years, spilled about 1000 gallons or so. Drunk on his ass, and his own brother turned him in :rofl:

Pipeline viewpoint right on the Steese Highway about 9 miles north of Fairbanks. There's a little gift shop! The terra ists could buy a little Alyeska keychain before blowing it up! If they wait till mid-summer, they could get 10 or 11 Princess Tours busses at the same time! :sarcasm:

[Blue_In_AK]

19. Yeah, the guy must have gotten bored with road signs

and moved on to bigger game. LOL.

[shance]

6. Do you mean Middle eastern terrorists hired by the Administration?

n/t

[Kerrytravelers]

7. So, is every family in the hamlet getting their very own camera?

[Coexist]

8. sounds like it.

[file83]

9. Let's see....2400people/80cams = 1 CAM per 30 PEOPLE!

Hmmm...could this be a pilot program perhaps? Testing out the facial recognition software on a small town in a real world case study? :shrug:

[Ouabache]

10. weird combo of Northern Exposure and The Truman Show ?

a soon-to-be reality show?

[Lars39]

11. I think I'd have to break out the spray paint.

[file83]

12. I second that! Spray paint and wire cutters.

:hide:

[Coexist]

15. why does Alaska get all of this pork?

What is up with that, anyone know?

[file83]

16. OIL:If their reps push for new drilling contracts-they get PORK in return

quid pro quo

[Coexist]

18. Aha!

the lightbulb goes on.

[sandnsea]

13. $83 per person

And if you went and asked those people to fork over $83 for cameras, not one of them would agree. The police chief should be fired for applying for this money in the first place, it's just a gross waste and honorable people wouldn't participate.

[file83]

17. Well, for once Sandy, I agree with you!

:loveya:

[Blue_In_AK]

20. I'm sure the good folks of Dillingham would agree with you...

Rowdy fisherman types are most likely not too keen on the idea of being spied upon.