The "train operators" cited were averaging around $80k for a 40 hour week. That comes to an hourly pay of around $38, when not working overtime. I don't see that as crazy high pay for a place like SF.
Seeing as many modern cars have camera arrays. I wonder if an auto manufacturer could sell access to their camera network to "authorities" as a more effective surveillance application?
I wish it were easier to quantify the energy cost of building these newer more efficient devices, as opposed to repurposing existing hardware. When you add e-waste to the equation, it gets cloudier.