Should Tampa Keep its Surveillance Cameras?

The Republican National Convention is long since over, but some reminders linger on the streets of Tampa. Namely 60 high-tech surveillance cameras placed in strategic locations in downtown.

Now, City of Tampa officials are deciding what to do with those cameras. They’re meeting today to discuss what happens next.

According to The Tampa Tribune, Mayor Bob Buckhorn would like to see them stay where they are. Some council members, however, think they should be moved to other parts of the city to help stamp out problems in high-crime areas.

The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, for example, has had success in using similar cameras to lessen crime in the University Area. The program has been so successful the sheriff’s office wants to add more of its own cameras in other parts of the county at a cost of $15,000 each.

What do you think about the city’s surveillance cameras? Should they continue to be used or are they too "Big Brother?" If you think they should stay, where would you like to see them placed?