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FLINT, Michigan -- Willing to spend $30,000 to put your name on a camera?
The City of Flint is looking for sponsors for surveillance cameras
that will be mounted around the city to keep a watch out for crooks.
In exchange for cash, the city will plaster
business names next to police logos on the pole-mounted camera boxes
that sport a blue police light that flashes 24 hours a day.
About the Blue Light Special
The City of Flint and a private security firm are looking for companies
and people willing to pony up sponsorship money for surveillance
cameras.
• What it costs: $30,000 for each PODDS (Portable Overt Digital Surveillance System).
• What you get: Your name or company logo next to the Flint Police shield on a pole-mounted camera box.
• Details: Asset Protection Specialists at (810) 239-3825.
Don't have $30,000? Depending on the size of the check, smaller logos
and even people's names can be placed on the boxes similar to those
found on a NASCAR racer.
The "Adopt-A-PODSS" program is part of an unique partnership
between the city and Asset Protection Specialists, a private security
firm in Flint.
Fliers with the company's name and city logo have been circulated
touting the cameras and plans are underway to put a PayPal link on the
city's Web site for camera sponsorship donations.
Police have been looking for a way to expand the program after being
thrilled with the lone surveillance camera keeping an eye on things at
Cecil and Jewell drives on the city's north side.
But given Flint's money problems, officials have been forced to get
creative in finding a way to fund the $420,000 price tag for 14 more
cameras.
While drug forfeiture money and grants should offset some of those
costs, supporters hope businesses will step forward with tax-deductible
sponsorship money.
Jesse Ford is all for a camera in his Hamilton Avenue neighborhood.
"We need one," said Ford, who lives near the spot where a man was shot to death in the street Tuesday night.
"I know they're expensive, but something needs to be done," said Ford.
Flint is not the only government entity to look to the private sector for help with surveillance cameras.
About a quarter of the $400,000 price tag for Flint Township's
network of 24 police cameras was paid by businesses who wanted cameras
on their property, with the rest of the cost coming from a business
development authority.
Although sponsors for the Flint cameras won't have their pick of an
exact location, the arrangement troubles the head of a Lansing-based
government watchdog group.
"If it's such a good idea, why not use tax funds for (the cameras)?" said John Chamberlin of Common Cause.
Although cities commonly partner with private businesses for
services, Chamberlin said they don't usually go to the extent that
Flint is trying.
Chamberlin worries that areas with more cash may get preferential treatment, while poorer sections get less cameras.
The Journal could not reach Flint Police Chief David Dicks for comment on the plan.
But Steve Melish, financial manager for Asset Protection
Specialists, said the company and city are looking for a mix of cameras
throughout Flint.
So far, no one has stepped forward to sponsor a camera, Melish said.
An open house is planned in the weeks ahead to drum up interest, but
a local Chamber of Commerce representative said it's in the hands of
businesses to decide how much they are willing to spend on security
measures.
"Everybody wants a safe business community. ... Fear of crime drives
business away," said Steve Flynn, who handles membership services for
the Genesee Regional Chamber of Commerce.
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