This morning, media outlets (CNN, USA Today, Washington Post, ABC, others) discussed a recent exercise in which investigators successfully smuggled bomb-making materials into high-profile Federal buildings in various US cities. Also published today was a write-up in Metropolis about the prevalence of security zones in NYC, LA and SF. Such findings once again force planners, citizens, academics, and policy makers (including DHS) to question the real success of these security measures. Indeed, commentators such as Mike Davis, Stephen Graham, Peter Marcuse and Michael Sorkin not only question the success of such measures in protecting building occupants, but also contend that the “militarization” of the urban landscape actually increases perceptions of fear and distrust among local inhabitants. So as the presence of security zones increases (see Secure Cities website), might real and perceived security still be in decline?
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