Q. Hi Honk: I’ve been driving up and down Beach Boulevard from Buena Park to Huntington Beach for most of the last 25 years. So when something new pops up I’m sure to notice. And a recent Monday morning something new did pop up. I noticed bright flashing lights about midway up many of the utility poles, only between Lincoln Avenue and Ball Road. It appears the lights were attached to what look like security cameras. Any idea what’s up? Is Big Brother spying on us? Why only between Lincoln and Ball? Should I start taking a new route?
– Jeff Trentini, La Mirada
A. Security cameras, indeed Jeff – installed on that portion of Beach inside the city limits of Anaheim, which has struggled with human trafficking, prostitution, homelessness and drug problems there.
“But they are not for traffic enforcement, and anyone using Beach to commute should not be concerned,” Mike Lyster, a city spokesman, told Honk.
“We offer extensive services to combat the tragedies of prostitution, homelessness and drug abuse,” he said. “But we must also tackle the daily issues of the area, which have serious impacts on nearby residents and businesses that do serve the community. …
“That is where the cameras come in,” Lyster said. “They are a second set of eyes for public safety. If we receive a call of concern, we can check cameras first for additional information as officers are dispatched.
“Or maybe the visual gives us enough information to dispatch our team of social workers instead of officers, if that is the best response to a social, rather than strictly public safety, issue.”
The city sees redevelopment as a key to improving that stretch of Beach.
“At the heart of our strategy is redevelopment as a lively, walkable corridor with new homes, shops, dining and other activities,” he said. “That redevelopment is starting now at Beach and Lincoln Avenue, and we look forward to seeing it extend southward to Ball Road in coming years.”
Those lights, by the way, are meant to get your attention.
“(They are) meant to draw attention to the camera,” Lyster said. “We want them to be seen … so there is a deterrent effect.”
Q. I read your column every week and look forward to any new kernels of knowledge I may glean. Liked your numbers on the hybrids and electric cars, but those numbers are meaningless if not put in context, i.e., how many ICEs are also registered?
– Les Thomas, Laguna Hills
A. Les isn’t talking U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, but internal combustion engine.
A month ago Honk mentioned how many hybrid and electric vehicles were registered in California as of Jan. 1, according to a Caltrans report.
OK, Les figured, great – but how do those figures compare to the number of strictly ICE vehicles that run on gas, diesel, propane, natural gas or the like?
Honk reached out to Will Arnold, a Caltrans spokesman up in the Sacramento headquarters, to look over his shoulder while he sifted through some state stats to ensure he got it right. As usual, Honk did.
Because of exactly when stats were pulled from the Department of Motor Vehicles’ database by Caltrans, the number of ICEs might be off a smidgen for Jan. 1. But close enough to get the idea:
- ICEs: 34,033,837 (95%)
- Hybrids: 1,386,383 (4%)
- Electrics: 400,197 (1%)
To ask Honk questions, reach him at honk@ocregister.com. He only answers those that are published. To see Honk online: ocregister.com/tag/honk. Twitter: @OCRegisterHonk
Source: Orange County Register
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