Chicago, City of Broad Surveillance

The Honorable Richard Daley, Hizzoner of Chicago, says he'll keep his city safe during the (sought) 2016 Olympics (until then, you're on your own).

Mayor Daley has argued that security and terrorism won’t be an issue if his Olympic dreams come true because, by 2016, there will be a surveillance camera on every street corner in Chicago.

Who's supposed to be happy about that?

But even before that blanket coverage begins, the “Big Brother’’ network is being put to better use.

Call takers and dispatchers now see real-time video if there is a surveillance cameras within 150 feet of a 911 call, thanks to a $6 million upgrade to the city’s “computer-aided dispatch” system.

When live video appears, call takers can pan, tilt and zoom those cameras to get the best possible view of a crime or disaster scene.

Uh, maybe Chicago should concentrate on prevention of terrorist crimes rather than just prettier pictures of their aftermath.