Red light cameras a bogus 'safety' issue

Red light cameras a bogus 'safety' issue

Elected officials in the village of Westmont voted "yes" to installing cameras on the village's streets, which had previously been safe from the prying eyes of the tollways, grocery stores, banks, dressing rooms, department stores, parking garages, etc. etc. I watched the live broadcast of the committee of the whole meeting, and almost fell off my couch laughing when the mayor and a trustee declared that installing red-light cameras was a "safety" issue, to keep citizens "safe." This is total nonsense at best, Candid Camera chicanery at worst. This is a revenue issue. Period. And, everyone sitting in the chamber's leather chairs knew it. Once those cameras go up, they are never coming down. Village officials will find reasons to support the use of more and more cameras in more and more places throughout Westmont to continue to feed the ravenous government machine. This is just the beginning. The Era of Spying on Westmont Citizens has officially kicked off, but I would feel much safer with the police and my local government not spying on me.

If local officials are truly concerned about my safety, they should pass an ordinance mandating that cameras be installed throughout my home so they can ensure that I don't burn myself when cooking or fall down the stairs. Or bump my head into a state of unconsciousness in the basement.

That's probably next on their agenda, however, all under the guise of keeping me "safe." Ronald Reagan said it best. The ten most dangerous words in the English language are, "I'm from the government and I'm here to help you."

Madeleine Miller-Holodnicki

Westmont