Len Raphael, CPA
at November 15, 2025 at 9:49pm PST
I support approval of the contract with amendments to include:
1. A strengthened termination clause for third-party violations.
2. Mandatory suspension of all ALPR use if federal access occurs without a court order.
3. Annual independent cybersecurity and privacy audits of the vendor.
4. A mandatory vendor attestation of full compliance and non-disclosure.
5. Expanded audit and access-log requirements for transparency and oversight.
In addition, consider contacting our governor’s office and AG Bonta to propose changes to the legislature to exempt state and local government ALPR and surveillance records from the CA Public Records Act disclosure rules.
Encourage Governor Newsom to work with OR and WA and other states to standardize Flock contract privacy provisions and police department privacy procedures.
The Flock contract that San Diego’s Public Safety Committee recently unanimously approved lowered the retention period to half of Oakland’s 30 days. Fourteen days is too short for a police dept as understaffed as ours to use the data to investigate crimes.
I am a longtime resident of Oakland and vehemently oppose the city signing any contract, agreement, or deal with Flock or any similar companies. This city already has a budget crisis and is lacking in basic human services. This proposal is a sick joke and a waste of taxpayer money and resources. Mass surveillance does not reduce crime and it violates basic human rights. Flock is an openly evil company that happily works with ICE to terrorize our citizens and communities. The city's Privacy Commission has already opposed this deal and it is cruel and unjust that this counsel is still considering this proposal.
The council members who have taken money from Empower Oakland should recuse themselves from this vote.
Tell the Oakland Police to do their jobs. Do not approve this proposal.
I support approval of the contract with amendments to include:
1. A strengthened termination clause for third-party violations.
2. Mandatory suspension of all ALPR use if federal access occurs without a court order.
3. Annual independent cybersecurity and privacy audits of the vendor.
4. A mandatory vendor attestation of full compliance and non-disclosure.
5. Expanded audit and access-log requirements for transparency and oversight.
In addition, consider contacting our governor’s office and AG Bonta to propose changes to the legislature to exempt state and local government ALPR and surveillance records from the CA Public Records Act disclosure rules.
Encourage Governor Newsom to work with OR and WA and other states to standardize Flock contract privacy provisions and police department privacy procedures.
The Flock contract that San Diego’s Public Safety Committee recently unanimously approved lowered the retention period to half of Oakland’s 30 days. Fourteen days is too short for a police dept as understaffed as ours to use the data to investigate crimes.
Len Raphael, CPA
Temescal
The Flock system does not make us safer. It just allows law enforcement to harass marginalized communities.
I am a longtime resident of Oakland and vehemently oppose the city signing any contract, agreement, or deal with Flock or any similar companies. This city already has a budget crisis and is lacking in basic human services. This proposal is a sick joke and a waste of taxpayer money and resources. Mass surveillance does not reduce crime and it violates basic human rights. Flock is an openly evil company that happily works with ICE to terrorize our citizens and communities. The city's Privacy Commission has already opposed this deal and it is cruel and unjust that this counsel is still considering this proposal.
The council members who have taken money from Empower Oakland should recuse themselves from this vote.
Tell the Oakland Police to do their jobs. Do not approve this proposal.