I have lived in Oakland for more than 25 years, and I strongly oppose investing in surveillance infrastructure, installed by an untrustworthy third party uninvested in our community's well-being, during this time of authoritarian power consolidation and ICE brutality. Please vote NO.

I am an Oakland resident (District 3) and I strongly oppose expansion of the FLOCK system and the transfer of the current contract to OPD.

There has been no evidence provided that the current FLOCK ALPR cameras have resulted in a tangible reduction in crime in Oakland. We should not be spending > $2MM to expand a system that has not been proven to be effective. Let's use that money to invest in our community instead – or at least on programs that have been shown to be effective at reducing crime.

Despite the supposed privacy protections that the proposed contract and California state law supposedly provide, there is irrefutable evidence that federal agencies can and have been able to access data from the current system. Expanding this surveillance system is an invitation for the federal government to increase spying on us in our neighborhoods and homes.

The company that runs the FLOCK system also appears to have a chequered past when it comes to protecting data and privacy, and I am shocked to hear that City Council is even considering partnering with a private entity to handle such sensitive data. That is to say nothing of the fact that management of system would be handled by a police department that remains under federal oversight for the past 20+ years for VIOLATING THE RIGHTS OF OAKLAND RESIDENTS.

A vote to implement this system is a complete abdication of responsibility to represent the best interests of Oaklanders, and a total violation of the people's trust.

Voting to oppose Flock’s expansion in Oakland is a vote to defend our right to privacy, to demand accountable and transparent policing, and to reject the idea that surveillance — especially in marginalized neighborhoods — is the primary path to safety. Rather than doubling down on mass data collection, we should invest in solutions that build trust, address root causes of crime, and treat our communities with dignity.

I urge you to vote against this Flock contract, which your own Privacay Advisory Commiission voted against approving. There are many risks posed by OPD use of Flock surveillance systems that connect privately-owned doorbell and surveillance cameras, business cameras, and drones into one nationwide tracking network—a network which ICE and other federal agencies have confirmed they can access for deportation investigations as recently as October 2025.
Even if Oakland regulates this use, there is little to no accountability when private companies like Flock and police departments using their technology violate the law. In fact, this already happened last July when San Francisco and Oakland police departments shared ALPR data with federal agencies, including for immigration enforcement purposes.
This is not the time to be putting so much data in the hands of a privately held company that has already been shown to release information to other agencies' requests.

I strongly support using Flock.

Small and medium businesses are leaving Oakland because of either loss due to break-ins or the costs necessary to deter theft. Residents are exasperated over constant petty theft, everything from carjackings to having important documents in the mail stolen. There's plenty of supporting proof for Oakland crime. Oakland has 2.5x the robbery rate per capita of San Francisco across the water. The PFM Staffing Report found that Oakland needed an additional 199 sworn officers just to handle its current baseload of issues. When it comes to revenue generation, real estate in Oakland is cooling causing the city to earn less than expected through the Real Estate Transfer Tax and Oakland visits are down cutting revenue from hotel taxes. Oakland doesn't have the money to fund its necessary baseload of police officers. Tools like Flock can help the efficiency of OPD.

I continue to be worried about Flock's potential use by ICE, but am happy with both California Government Code § 7282.5 and § 7284.2 et seq. which block the use of Flock by ICE agents. Moreover any privacy concerns I have are addressed by O.M.C 9.64 et seq. which mandates regular racial impact data collection and oversight when using surveillance technologies.

In my 10 years in Oakland, the story has been the embrace of abstract virtue over effective governance. If Oakland doesn't improve its crime and safety atmosphere, businesses and residents will move out and Oakland will lose tax money.

Oakland has built one of the most transparent, civilian-governed camera systems in the nation. The City’s Surveillance Technology Ordinance and departmental general orders (DGO I-12 & I-32.1) require annual audits, public reporting, and civilian review by both the Privacy Commission and City Council. State laws (SB34 & the proposed AB-1300) are among the most stringent and restrictive data sharing laws in the nation. We shouldn’t let misinformation from other cities and states scare us away from tools that work. Let’s focus on facts and accountability instead of fear and speculation. Don't throw the baby out with the bathwater. VOTE YES to continue this responsible, transparent and effective safety program.

See all the facts vs the myths at https://oakpublicsafety.com/safety-camera-facts

I am writing in strong opposition to the use of FLOCK cameras in Oakland. Flock has already come under fire for having poor data sharing and management features. Flock has also been by ICE to perform illegal and unethical searches (https://www.404media.co/ice-taps-into-nationwide-ai-enabled-camera-network-data-shows/). Flock has repeatedly been dishonest about their levels of security and intentions. Investing in Flock is wasteful at best, and jeopardizes people privacy and rights at worst.

At a time when so many public benefits are being cut, the $2.2M+ funding could be better used to support people's basic needs such as food, housing, employment, education, etc.

I am an Oakland resident (Fruitvale) that has been a victim of multiple crimes (2 x car burglaries, 1 attempted home burglary) and I believe the police should have every tool at their disposal to prevent crime and catch criminals. They are critically underfunded and under resourced with patrol officers. Please do not take away the Flock camera system as well.

There’s a lot of misinformation about Flock ALPRs. The facts are simple:
• Cameras do not track people; they are not capable of facial recognition; they identify vehicles linked to crimes.
• Data belongs to the City not Flock; it is automatically deleted after 30 days.
• The system is restricted to authorized state & local law enforcement closed—no out of state agency, including ICE, can access it.
• Every use is logged, audited, and subject to civilian review
• They have significantly improved OPD’s clearance rate for major crimes resulting in 100 of arrests YTD

Oakland has built one of the most transparent, civilian-governed camera systems in the nation. The City’s Surveillance Technology Ordinance and departmental general orders (DGO I-12 & I-32.1) require annual audits, public reporting, and civilian review by both the Privacy Commission and City Council. State laws (SB34 & the proposed AB-1300) are among the most stringent and restrictive data sharing laws in the nation. We shouldn’t let misinformation from other cities and states scare us away from tools that work. Let’s focus on facts and accountability instead of fear and speculation. Don't throw the baby out with the bathwater. VOTE YES to continue this responsible, transparent and effective safety program.

This system isn’t about surveillance — it’s about safety and equity. Most violent crime victims in Oakland live in neighborhoods without private camera networks, and Flock brings them the same protections wealthier areas already have. The data is tightly restricted: owned by the City, kept only 30 days, and fully audited. Flock cameras see less than what our phones track every minute. And with OPD’s staffing shortages, this is a tool that improves accountability, reduces unnecessary police contact, and focuses attention on the small number of vehicles linked to real crime. This is the most transparent, most regulated system OPD operates, and it directly benefits the communities most impacted by violence.

This is one of the most regulated, transparent technologies used by any department in the City.

The strongest privacy rules in the City apply to this system — far stronger than what the average resident experiences with their cell phone or apps.

Technology should protect the neighborhoods most impacted by violence, not increase harm or intrusion.

The Flock Safety system represents a continuation of proven, regulated technology that has contributed to crime reduction while respecting privacy through oversight, limited data use, and community transparency.

I strongly oppose using Flock, and in general increasing the surveillance in our city. I am a longtime Oakland resident (8 yrs) and I believe what our city needs are greater public resources like housing, education, access to jobs programs, healthcare, and food. I believe by investing in these basic needs, we will be able to have a safer city. I do not believe that the answer is increased security.

Additionally, I don’t like how camera data could be shared with federal agencies, such as those like ICE who are looking to detain innocent people in our town.

As a long-time employee of companies like Flock, as a resident of West Oakland and as the owner of multiple businesses in Oakland I must oppose this measure in the strongest terms. As many professional security researchers have pointed out (eg, https://www.404media.co/researcher-who-oversaw-flock-surveillance-study-now-has-concerns-about-it/) this technology has been oversold by its creators and simply does not accomplish what Flock's marketing department would like you to think it does. Moreover, because of the profit-driven ways Flock has designed its system it is a near certainty that sensitive images of my friends and neighbors will be shared with ICE and other federal law enforcement. In another era it would be understandable to weigh this harm against potential benefits to our town, but particularly in this time of unbridled corruption and blatantly racist authoritarian federalized "policing" it would be beyond irresponsible to collaborate with a company that is clearly helping the forces kidnapping immigrants, surveilling women seeking healthcare and abducting Americans off the street on the flimsiest pretexts (https://www.404media.co/ice-taps-into-nationwide-ai-enabled-camera-network-data-shows/).

I am beyond worried about what will happen if you choose to collaborate with Flock - for my neighbors, for my family, for my business and for my town - please make the right decision.

As a longtime resident of North Oakland, I strongly oppose the continued and augmented use of FLOCK cameras in Oakland. The record shows that information from these cameras can be shared with other police departments, ICE, CBP, and federal agencies. At a time of increasing authoritarianism at the federal level, including violent attacks by ICE in our cities against those perceived to be immigrants and immigrants who are awaiting asylum hearings, racial profiling and attacks on political activists who protest the actions of our government, I fear that the FLOCK cameras will do harm to us in Oakland. These fears are not unfounded as we have witnessed such attacks in Los Angeles, Chicago, New York, and other cities. We have also witnessed attacks on political activists for simply asserting their first amendment rights. In addition, the surveillance capabilities of these cameras can be used against unions which stand up for the rights of all workers.

We must support the status of Oakland as a Sanctuary City and our core beliefs that no one should be racially or politically profiled. Yet the ability to share information across FLOCK camera systems will put us and many people we care about in greater danger than we now experience. The ACLU and other civil rights orgs. oppose the use of FLOCK, and warn us of its dangers.

A safer city can be created by using the money for programs to address poverty and inequities in our city.

Flock has repeatedly been dishonest about their levels of security and true intentions. Make no mistake, this is a privately owned business whose true currency is information. They have bribed our city officials through “empower oakland.” Why push so hard? Because they are grifters. The solution to reducing crime is people invested in community, human beings on the street cultivating mutual respect and immediate feedback. The solution is a reduction of scarcity. Not surveillance, technology or a less than honest tech companies.

I strongly oppose adopting FLOCK. It's not a real solution to our problems. Please invest in housing, education, food access, etc. (things that actually prevent crime). Expanding surveillance systems is a net loss for everyone. It threatens sanctuary city protections by creating surveillance infrastructure that will be exploited by federal immigration enforcement, despite Oakland's ongoing litigation to defend sanctuary jurisdictions. Also, FLOCK is an untrustworthy vendor that has admitted to using 50 million stolen data points, partnered with ICE despite sanctuary policies, and its CEO has been documented lying to communities.

This is a needless and cost ineffective use of city funds. Oakland police already have a more than adequate budget and have done very little to lower crime in our city. Instead of invasive and unnecessary surveillance we should be investing in youth services, health care, and safe housing. These programs lower crime more than over policing. Oakland is and should remain a sanctuary city. Our diversity is what makes Oakland such a special place.

I STRONGLY oppose Oakland adopting the FLOCK camera system as a crime fighting tool. Data from this system has been used by federal agencies, including ICE, and is a serious invasion of residents' privacy. I am well aware that Oakland has an understaffed police department, but the FLOCK camera system has far too much potential for abuse. Other cities have already abandoned the system - it IS NOT an approach Oakland should be considering.

The Flock system shares data with ICE, CBP, and other federal agencies, endangering activists, immigrants, children, LGBTQ people, and all the other people else targeted by the corrupt federal government. I can't believe this is even under consideration.

Flock cameras violate our privacy and share data with ICE and other federal agencies who target Oakland immigrants, activists and youth. Please protect the rights and freedom of these Oakland residents and oppose the Flock Camera System.

Oakland is at its weakest point now with about 450 active OPD. At 3 shifts per 24hrs, that's 1 officer per 3,000 citizens at any given moment. We absolutely cannot afford to lose the only truly effective technological tool that we have. If Flock disappears in Oakland, it is once again announcing that it is the perfect crime destination. You don't get Flock tagged, you don't get chased, you don't get caught. Anyone can drive here, wreak havoc, and disappear scot-free. We pay the price up front. We also pay the price on the back end when businesses and citizens flee Oakland.

Flock's strength is in its comprehensive coverage. There are currently hundreds if not thousands of active cameras throughout the East Bay. They're run by CHP, PDs, cities, private communities and businesses. Oakland was literally the last local city to buy into this technology. When the City Council first voted to fund the purchase of Flock cameras, it made one of the best investments in public safety which has already resulted in a huge ROI. We not only got our own Flock cameras but we automatically got plugged into the massive East Bay Flock database. As soon as criminals prey on Oakland, their vehicle is tagged and they can be apprehended anywhere. Flock is a force multiplier in that it effectively expands our policing capabilities (now critically minimal) to include all of the agencies and communities who are already using Flock. The entire East Bay as a whole grows safer if we all buy into Flock.