The Amarillo City Council approved three resolutions involving security, covering grant applications to the Office of the Governor’s Public Safety Office (PSO) for enhancement projects for the Amarillo Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) and regional bomb squad, as well as the Amarillo Regional Crime Center for cameras on interstate corridors.
During the Tuesday, March 10 regular council meeting, several citizens objected to the measures, citing anxiety over “surveillance cameras” invading their personal property. Lana Burke complained that “old white men didn’t need to be spying on people.” Janet Whitten, who said she was from Minnesota and a military veteran, said she didn’t want to see cameras being placed in town and was concerned how it would affect the city’s population. She said America was on “stolen ground” and needed to stay within the constitution.
While the council didn’t speak on the issue during public comment, Mayor Cole Stanley later addressed concerns for the resolutions, which passed to help prevent acts of terrorism, violence and threats to security. The applications are for funding through the State of Texas and the Governor’s Homeland Security Grant division…