On The Editor's Desk

My blog title came from the mouths of several high-ranking law enforcement and government officials over the last couple of days, and all we could do is ask, “How did this happen?" How did a 20-year-old would-be assassin somehow get on the roof of a building during a Donald Trump rally in Butler, Pa., and fire a series of rounds that grazed the presidential nominee’s ear, and sadly and tragically kill an innocent spectator protecting his family? That’s a question that...

My home, New York City, has given me yet more blog fodder to share with you this week, with the latest security-related happenings centered around the potential ban of cellphones in city schools. Nearly a decade after then-NYC Mayor Bill DeBlasio lifted the ban of cell phone use by students in schools, the mayor who originally implemented the systemwide ban in the first place – Michael Bloomberg – came out and called for the reinstitution of the ban of phones in city schools in his...

I’m staying local again for this week’s blog, as I fittingly “focus” on cameras, and how they relate to a topic that has been discussed in NYC circles for nearly two decades – congestion pricing.   Guess I should first briefly explain what congestion pricing is for those who do not live in the Northeast, or specifically the Greater NYC Metropolitan Area. Congestion pricing was a plan developed by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) back in 2007 to...

Drones have emerged in the physical security space as a reliable video surveillance tool, but New York City (NYC) Mayor Eric Adams is traveling uncharted waters, so to speak, in how he wants to utilize drones during the summer months. As a NYC resident, I have read numerous articles on how there’s a lifeguard shortage at area beaches this summer. Now, with Memorial Day weekend in the rearview mirror and summer unofficially underway, Mayor Adams has come up with a game plan to overcome the...

I’m channeling Van Morrison for this week’s blog after spending the last few days at PSA TEC 2024, a conference being fittingly held in “Big D.” Why do I say, “fittingly held?” Well, they say that everything is bigger in Texas, and I’m in Dallas, a city whose nickname is “Big D.” What I’m trying to say is that PSA TEC has gotten bigger each year since I started coming to the integrator-based conference, and it doesn’t seem like...

The issue of whether to ban facial recognition technology has reared its ugly head again, and this time, the Security Industry Association (SIA) has an ally to help its cause. SIA joined forces with the International Biometrics + Identity Association (IBIA) – an international trade group that represents the identification technology industry – to compose a letter dated April 15, 2024, encouraging Congress to oppose a provision in the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization...

Safe to say that ISC West 2024 came up all 7s. Sorry, had to use some slot machine terminology as Las Vegas was the center of the security universe for the largest industry show of the year. It’s a good thing I’m not claustrophobic, and I’m sure my quartet of Security Systems News colleagues who joined me in Vegas – Ken Showers, Brad Durost, Acasia Gardner and Christina Throndson – would echo that sentiment. Boy, was that show floor packed to the gills or what? We...

As we all prepare for ISC West next week, one man who sadly will not be in Las Vegas will instead be honored for his years of dedication to his company and the security industry as a whole. Paul Ahern was the longtime CEO of Cypress Integration Solutions who passed away in January 2023 after a battle with liver and pancreatic cancer. Paul’s presence at industry shows - including ISC West and Security Systems News’ own SecurityNext conference - demonstrated his commitment to not...

I’m sure we’ve all done self-checkout at a grocery store to save time, rather than stand behind shoppers in line with literally a cartful of items. But how about self-checkout at an airport? You’re probably saying, “What? How is that possible?” Well, folks, a new technology was recently unveiled at Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas, featuring a screening system designed for travelers who do not want to wait on long lines at airport security checkpoints....

What do you get when you bring 40 journalists together to Washington, D.C.? If you said a presidential briefing or a congressional hearing, good guess, but for me, the answer is a one-of-a-kind experience learning about the inner workings of a physical security solutions provider. This week, myself and other security journalists from literally all around the world (yes, from as far as Singapore and Australia), have gathered for the Genetec Global Press Summit, a two-day event featuring a combination...