Supes Meeting Thursday To Discuss Event Security Plans, Controversial Market Street Camera Proposal

San Francisco supervisors are holding a hearing this week to discuss the city’s security measures for large public events in the wake of the deadly bombings earlier this month at the Boston Marathon.

Supervisor Eric Mar called for the hearing the day after the April 15 explosions near the finish line of the race, which killed three people and injured scores of others.

At the hearing, which will take place Thursday, Mar said San Francisco should review its security policies in advance of several upcoming events, including the Craigslist Bay to Breakers race in May.

One proposal being put forth by police Chief Greg Suhr is to place surveillance cameras along Market Street during races or so authorities can monitor any suspicious activities.

Police spokesman Officer Gordon Shyy said the cameras would allow police to monitor events in real time from a nearby command post.

“It’s something that is very useful,” Shyy said.

He said the proposal would not call for the cameras to be permanent.

Mar said in a statement that Thursday’s hearing “will allow us to evaluate how well we are protecting the public, as well as ensuring that our civil liberties are not impinged on.”

The hearing, before the supervisors’ neighborhood services and safety committee, is scheduled for 2 p.m. Thursday in board chambers at City Hall.

Dan McMenamin, Bay City News

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