Resident praises council for removing Flock cameras, warns against expanding automated surveillance

Eli Wickman, who identified himself with an address given to the council, told members he opposed Flock automated‑license‑plate cameras and similar systems because they normalize constant surveillance in public spaces. "We're always being watched," Wickman said, arguing that third‑party camera systems document public movement in ways that personal choices (like smartphones) do not.

Wickman compared automated license‑plate and neighborhood surveillance systems to Ring doorbells and mobile phones, saying the latter are voluntary personal choices while citywide or third‑party camera networks capture everyone by default. He praised the council for previously removing the cameras and urged officials not to redeploy similar systems.