Big Brother - "Potty Gate": Surveillance cameras installed in Leisure World of Maryland Senior Citizens Condo Party Room

Point Blank© by slk

Courtesy of the same crew that engaged your attention in the shameful saga: “Leisure World of Maryland-bring your own TP”

http://rockville.patch.com/groups/point-blank-leisure-world-of-maryland--insideout/p/welcome-to-the-greens-1leisure-world-byo-tp

comes now this inordinately perverted Orwellian chapter of intrusion, invasion of privacy, harassment and intimidation i.e. ELDER ABUSE.

“Security cameras” have been long ago mounted in the lobby corners of the Leisure World of Maryland, Greens 1 “Mutual 20A” condo buildings (located @ 15101 and 15107 Interlachen Drive, Silver Spring, Maryland 20906).

Now, Property Manager Rev. Vincent Turner and the Greens 1 Board of Directors, have installed motion activated SURVEILLANCE cameras in the elderly resident “Potty” (Party) rooms.

Rev. Turner writes the surveillance cameras are not to protect the senior residents or their personal property, but that the attorney written signs are to “protect Mutual property and Mutual liability”.

Elderly residents of this large 2 building 500 unit senior citizen condo association, have previously expressed fear of management intimidation and retaliation. Informed experts and some elected officials have identified these very real feelings as being ELDER ABUSE.

Atop this report the reader can view photos of the hardly noticeable SURVEILLANCE cameras, what they “view” and “From the Manager’s Desk” written by Rev.M. Vincent Turner, appearing in the October and November, 2014 newsletter: “Views from The Greens at Leisure World”.

According to a September 4, 2012 resident circulated newsletter, management installed hidden audio recording equipment was used to eavesdrop on residents:

“7. HIDDEN AUDIO RECORDING EQUIPMENT IN OUR 20A PARTY ROOMS:
You are probably not aware that our Mutual’s party rooms are equipped with hidden electronic audio recording equipment used to record meeting conversations which incidently(sp) cannot be listened to by non Board members. We believe this is highly inappropriate. Prior to any meetings, attendees/Unit Owners must be informed that they are being recorded. Highly visible signs should be posted on the outside entrance doors to each party room, and in several prominent locations inside each party room. All attendees/Unit owners should have the right to listen, and to see full and complete audio and/or video recordings upon request.”

Questions yet to be answered:

1. Who originated this action?.
2. For what valid reason?
3. What amount of resident funds were used to purchase and install this SURVEILLANCE system?
4. What amount of resident funds were used to pay the Mutual’s attorney to write the signs language absolving Mutual liability?
5. Where is the live video monitored and by whom?.
6. Where and in what way is the digital recording stored, for how long, and for what purpose?