I remain confused. Don't the police have to apply for permits or permissions to hang stuff on utility poles?

No, the city owns the poles.

@2 So, the police can do anything with city property if there isn't an explicit rule saying they can't? That just seems strange to me. Does any other city department have that power? Or, do all the departments have that power? I guess my understanding of municipal government is deficient.

@1: What makes you think they didn't?

@3 - Well, the city owns the poles, and the police union owns the city, so they can do pretty much whatever.

@4 Good point. I thought of it because the news reports are saying we have no procedure for this kind of surveillance, which made me conclude it was done with no procedure outside of internal police department decision making. But, if they did request and receive permission, I would think that would be part of the news story, unless they didn't need permission, or there is an explicit general rule already in place allowing police to hang up whatever, or they ignored whatever interdepartmental permissions that would be required and the utilities are too cowed to respond.

It's settled - Malcolm Smith is the Ansel Adams of mesh network router photography.

Not too exciting, but here's a photo back in March of them installing one of the units:

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-pvUX9…

These photos make me miss working in downtown Seattle. Didn't think that was possible...

@8 Based on the photos seen they are attaching onto light poles, traffic lights, etc. They would have had to work out an attachment agreement with SDOT to do that (approved installers, safety, inspection, etc.) That's pretty standard.

They would probably not have gone through a formal planning/use review with DPD, however. Telecom sites have a defined review process (usually conditional use) but there are a lot of exceptions that public safety have built into the regs, so probably minimal paper trail there (admin at best.)

@10: Yes, this needs to be a Buzzfeed listicle: "The best collection of images of mesh network routers you'll see today!"

@15: great idea. Suggested headline edit -- "I cant' stop looking at these mesh network routers (and they can't stop looking back)"

Stop chemtrails!

Look, if they can find three-fourths of a million dollars for Ed Murray they couldn't find for Mike McGinn, which part of Police State Seattle aren't you GETTING?

You're serfs.

Not Citizens.

They expect you to be sheep.

@14 thanks for the analysis

@18 gettin pretty blatant, isn't it?

Agree that these are beautiful - and disturbing - photos; exactly what is needed to create the necessary focal point for discussion. If this is permitted, why not just insert a chip into each citizen so we'll always know where they are, "for their own safety, and the safety of society"? These are a good reason to keep the phone turned off unless calling out.... (or can they track a "dead phone" too? Wouldn't put it past the technology...)

You fucking idiots realize that the mere presence of wifi networks is nothing sinister, right? Jesus. They've installed a communications network. Big fucking deal.

YOU GUYS I THINK MY NEIGHBORS ARE SPYING ON ME. CAN ANYONE TELL ME HOW TO TAKE A SCREENSHOT OF ALL THESE WIRELESS NETWORKS I SEE???