  Addressing public safety effectively requires incorporating diverse
stakeholder perspectives, particularly those of the community, which are often
underrepresented compared to other stakeholders. This study presents a
comprehensive analysis of the community's general public safety concerns, their
view of existing surveillance technologies, and their perception of AI-driven
solutions for enhancing safety in urban environments, focusing on Charlotte,
NC. Through a survey approach, including in-person surveys conducted in August
and September 2023 with 410 participants, this research investigates
demographic factors such as age, gender, ethnicity, and educational level to
gain insights into public perception and concerns toward public safety and
possible solutions. Based on the type of dependent variables, we utilized
different statistical and significance analyses, such as logit regression and
ordinal logistic regression, to explore the effects of demographic factors on
the various dependent variables. Our results reveal demographic differences in
public safety concerns. Younger females tend to feel less secure yet trust
existing video surveillance systems, whereas older, educated individuals are
more concerned about violent crimes in malls. Additionally, attitudes towards
AI-driven surveillance differ: older Black individuals demonstrate support for
it despite having concerns about data privacy, while educated females show a
tendency towards skepticism.
