Denver Community Urges Action on Flock License Plate Readers Tonight

UPDATE: A community town hall meeting is set for 6 p.m. today in Denver, where residents will confront the city’s controversial use of Flock cameras, a technology that reads and records license plates. This urgent gathering is being organized by local neighborhood groups and will provide a platform for residents to express their concerns about privacy and surveillance.

Denver Mayor Mike Johnston announced a new agreement to extend the Flock camera contract this morning, igniting community outrage. The deal includes a provision that prevents the sharing of license plate data with the federal government, but many community leaders are questioning its implications.

Serena Gonzales-Guttierrez, Denver city councilmember at-large, emphasized the importance of community input, stating, “Hearing from our community members who are the very subject of this surveillance is incredibly important.” She highlighted that previous breaches of data from the Flock cameras have raised alarms, especially among vulnerable community members.

Councilmember Sarah Parady, who is on the task force addressing surveillance technology, expressed deep concern that the mayor’s unilateral extension of the Flock contract was made without adequate community consultation. “It’s not been a very democratic process,” she lamented, urging the mayor to listen to the voices that may directly be affected by this decision.

This town hall, hosted at 2650 E. 40th Ave., is expected to attract a diverse group of stakeholders, including representatives from the ACLU of Colorado, the Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition, and Together Colorado. Their presence underscores the significance of the debate surrounding surveillance technology in Denver neighborhoods.

Concerns surrounding the Flock cameras have escalated as residents have been approached to approve permits for additional installations. Parady noted, “Some of our neighborhood groups became alarmed,” indicating a growing unease about the surveillance landscape in their communities.

As the clock ticks down to this evening’s meeting, residents are urged to come forward with their opinions and suggestions. Will they call for an end to the Flock cameras, or propose alternative solutions? This pivotal discussion could shape the future of surveillance in Denver and determine how community safety is balanced with personal privacy.

Stay tuned for updates as more information becomes available from this critical town hall meeting.