San Diego City Council agreed to deploy both automated license plate readers and "Smart Streetlights" throughout the City of San Diego after a contentious eight months of public discussion and meetings. Ubicquia Inc.’s Smart Streetlights and Flock Safety’s Automated License Plate Recognition will have a 5-year agreement —and a $12 million contract — with the City of San Diego. The companies and San Diego Police Department officials say the cameras will hold wrongdoers accountable. Critics of the tech say the cameras infringe on citizens’ privacy. San Diego Police Chief David Nisleit says the crime-solving cameras will make San Diego safer. "It allows us to respond to violent crimes in a more effective manner and allows us to hold those committing crimes on our community accountable," Nisleit said. "Anytime law enforcement can leverage technology such as smart streetlights and automated license plate readers, it only makes us more efficient at our jobs and provides for a safer community." The 500 cameras will be installed across San Diego in busy intersections like Clairemont Mesa Boulevard and Ruffin Road and other places including the beach areas and Downtown San Diego. Readers can find a map of the cameras proposed deployment across the City of San Diego here. But not everyone is a fan of the plan. The idea was met with controversy after several people and groups such as Transparent and Responsible Use of Surveillance Technology San Diego Coalition, or TRUST SD spoke out vehemently against the technology citing privacy and safety concerns. Members of the coalition also coordinated with City Council and the police to draft surveillance ordinances on how best to manage technology like the smart streetlights. FULL STORY: https://www.cbs8.com/article/news/local/smart-streetlights-come-to-san-diego/509-1756ad52-32ac-4602-a26e-598df635fed3