It’s full speed ahead for Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s controversial plan to use cameras to catch motorists who speed near schools and parks.
Despite concerns that the plan is more about raising revenue than keeping children safe, the City Council on Wednesday approved the dramatic expansion in Chicago’s Big Brother surveillance network. The vote was 33-14.
The debate turned emotional when Ald. Jim Balcer (11th) recalled that he was run over by a car when he was 8.
“It was a traumatic experience in my life. I still remember it,” Balcer said. “People said buckle up wouldn’t work. They said why give people tickets who won’t buckle up? It has saved lives [and so will speed cameras]. We will get used to it. We will adjust to it. If people don’t want a ticket, obey the law.”
Turning to his colleagues, Balcer said, “If you don’t want the cameras, let me have them. I’ll be glad to put them in to save the lives of children.”
Ah yes, "the children." Anyone care to tally up the number of children hit and killed by cars this year in Chicago? Then compare it to the number of children shot sleeping in their beds, sitting on their front porches or walking through a park near a pick-up basketball game?