Thread by @CAMSOttawa

Getting things started here at City Hall for a conversation about CCTVs in Ottawa:

Follow this thread if you weren't able to make it but want to keep up!

facebook.com/events/5045769…

First up, @tpcpcanada making introductions and setting up the discussion for the evening.

Nice to see @ShawnMenard1 in the room - where are the other councillors? All received an invite.

@savasavasava is now introducing her short film - "Frames" which you can stream here: screeningsurveillance.com

@savasavasava @savasavasava says this about the woman who is the subject of her film and video surveillance:

"A system that is supposed to help us [CCTV] was unable to see that she needed help."

#NoCCTVinOttawa #BuildCommunities #InvestInPeople

@savasavasava First up on the panel is @wickdchiq representing @CAMSOttawa.

Erica is pushing people to think about *why* people in Ottawa might want CCTVs installed across the city, even though we know surveillance does not work to prevent violence.

Next up is @DualSean - noting that CCTVs are used to target already marginalized/vulnerable people and communities in Ottawa.

Points to an article about Glasgow, Scotland - where public surveillance was rampant but did nothing to decrease violence. City now changing strategy.

@DualSean "We are doing the same things over and over and over again..." - Sean pointing to the downward spiral that begins with policing, surveillance, and criminalization.

#NoCCTVinOttawa #BuildCommunities

Sean calls for *prevention* - something that CCTVs don't provide.

#ShowUsTheEvidence

Next is @CiaraBRoche from the Department of Criminology at uOttawa.

Asking: "What kind of society do we want to live in? Where do we want to put our resources?"

"Blanketing public space with public surveillance is a bad idea!" - @CiaraBRoche

Cites a complete lack of evidence on the ability for CCTVs to reduce/prevent crime.

Curious to know what @JimWatsonOttawa thinks about this lack of evidence.

@CiaraBRoche @JimWatsonOttawa Ciara also notes how CCTVs are used to target 'the usual suspects' and how this creates an extremely hostile environment for people who are already marginalized and targeted by other policing strategies.

#NoCCTVinOttawa

@CiaraBRoche @JimWatsonOttawa Ciara asks, "Do we need to consistently sacrifice our privacy for safety?"

Demands engagement and consultation with the public from @ottawacity and @OttawaPolice.

Speaking now is Midori Ogasawara (Department of Criminology, University of Ottawa).

Yet another speaker pointing to a *complete lack* of evidence linking CCTVs to a reduction/prevention of violence.

#NoCCTVinOttawa #ShowUsTheEvidence

Midori Ogasawara: This isn't just about taking data/filming people on the street - it's then about what is done with that data, how it is connected to other data... we don't really know how far it goes.

#StopSpyingOnUs

Midori points out that Western governments are quick to critique countries like China for their widespread public surveillance - yet here we are in Ottawa talking about installing CCTVs in the ByWard Market without engaging in discussion and debate about the consequences.

Last speaker is Norman Moyer from the Lowertown Community Association: "We are here because we want to know more" - the Association is still undecided about their position on CCTVs.

"We would like to engage the broader community... in a deeper study on the root causes of crime... to identify the appropriate solutions" - Moyer.

Speaks to impact of CCTVs on property crime - but a reminder that this is *not* the goal @JimWatsonOttawa outlined in his proposal.

"We will take a more measured approach" - Moyer.

We're now moving on to the discussion, facilitated by David Moffette (Criminology, University of Ottawa).

First question is why there is no one who is really in favour of CCTVs on the panel. Answer: several people were invited (including the ByWard Market BIA) and not everyone responded.

Representatives from the ByWard BIA are in the audience - say they are happy to listen to what others have to say. Say they support anything that "makes people feel comfortable."

Immediate rebuttal - whose comfort matters here?

@CiaraBRoche wants the BIAs to think more about alternative ways to prevent/reduce crime in the Market. What kind of community do they want to build?

@CiaraBRoche Audience member highlighting the role of the tech lobby in all of this - bank on people being ignorant about the impact of surveillance in order to sell services to cities.

Selling us community safety, but at what cost? In return for all of the data that is recorded.

@CiaraBRoche "CCTV is really lazy" - @savasavasava

👏👏👏

We *need* do to the hard work of building communities, providing people services and supports, giving people opportunities.

#BuildCommunities

@wickdchiq highlights that installing CCTVs is just another step in gentrification.

What we are doing is not working. It's leaving a lot of people out and pushing them away (into prisons and jail).

@wickdchiq Representative from ByWard BIA says once again that they are willing to listen and engage - keep the conversation going.

@wickdchiq Another audience/community member agreeing that CCTV is not a solution. Reminds us that social services/supports are suffering from cuts and consider the impacts of this.

If there is money for CCTVs why can't we re-direct that funding to things that actually work?

Closing remarks now from panellists. This has been a really important discussion about CCTVs and how cities choose to respond to violence, harm, and conflict in communities.

This has to be a starting point and those with decision-making power must continue to engage.

Increasing surveillance and policing decreases our humanity - @savasavasava

We need to start making decisions from a place of compassion.

#BuildCommunities

"I just think we can do so much better" @DualSean

We definitely can - and there are so many people in this room, and across Ottawa, ready and willing to do better.

"We need to start knowing each other again... We need to challenge each other and support each other in doing this work" - @wickdchiq

#BuildCommunities #InvestInPeople

@wickdchiq Just a note that @MathieuFleury was in attendance as well to listen to the discussion and concerns about CCTVs. Need to keep the consultation going.

@CiaraBRoche once again encouraging people to think about alternatives. If not CCTV, then what. Lots of things we can do, we just need to promote those ideas and people with decision-making power need to listen.

Moyer from the LCA wants to solve the problems in Lowertown and the Market - wants to keep collaborating and communicating. Moyer wants to "put CCTV on the shelf" and take a look at other solutions.

@MathieuFleury @JimWatsonOttawa

@tpcpcanada with last comments:

$1 spent on prevention saves $7 on policing, courts, prisons.

Money spent on a CCTV pilot is money wasted - we know this.

#InvestInCommunities

Mentoring and leadership training for youth.
Summer jobs.
Peer support workers.
Social workers.
Harm reduction resources.
Counselling.
Housing.

These are just some things that can make a *real* difference in people's lives, a *real* difference in communities.

@tpcpcanada notes that there seems to be more common ground here than initially thought. Good. Let's move from this. Let's challenge our leaders and community members to do something that works.

#NoCCTVinOttawa