Photo by Sarah Bennett
New security cameras are currently watching over two major intersections in East Anaheim Street’s newly formed Business Improvement District, the first phase of a privately funded operation to deter crime and protect business owners in the area.
The East Anaheim Street Business Alliance debuted the eight closed-circuit cameras Monday afternoon at a media event which displayed live feeds from each of the four cameras installed at Redondo and Temple avenues. With installation and maintainence entirely funded by the EASBA, the project was made possible through the annual assessments imposed on the nearly 600 businesses along the Anaheim St. corridor between Junipero Ave. and Pacific Coast Highway.
“The new surveillance cameras are the first of many initiatives that will make East Long Beach safer for all who live and work here,” said EASBA President Rod Wilson in a statement. “This is a direct investment back into the community, made possible by EASBA membership.”
Installed two weeks ago, the EASBA’s cameras will use wireless technology to transmit images to nearby equipment where data will be recorded and stored in case it is ever needed to help solve a crime. Partnering with the Long Beach Police Department, the camera feeds will also be available for live streaming as an additional tool to assist police in reducing criminal activity and solving crimes more quickly.
“Business Improvement Districts like EASBA are ideal groups to collaborate with law enforcement to help drive crime rates down,” Wilson said, “because they are already attune to neighborhood issues and are used to working together to find solutions for those issues.”