Hey, I’m all for embracing dramatic steps when they’re necessary.
After all, I’m the one who thinks Florida needs a state income tax.
In fact, I’ll take that idea and raise it:
Instead of deciding on a silly property tax reform amendment in November, we Floridians should really be voting on a billionaire tax proposal like the one that’s on the California ballot.
So I get it.
I get why some folks in Sarasota think something drastic needs to be done about the rising number of Flock traffic cameras across the city and Sarasota County.
You know, the cameras that can capture license plates and other distinctive vehicle features and then feed that information into a database that’s supposed to help police solve crimes.
And I especially get that concern now
that a Sarasota Police Department officer was recently fired and arrested after an investigation into the alleged misuse of law enforcement databases – including, you guessed it, the one for Flock data.
I mean, give the Sarasota Police Department credit for quickly conducting a thorough investigation and then firing and arresting the officer.
But that still doesn’t change this unnerving question:
Why was anyone in the police department able to allegedly misuse Flock traffic data in the first place?
Stupid, counterproductive
All that said, however, here are two more questions worth raising about all the Flock cameras in our area:
Isn’t it flat-out stupid and counterproductive to go around Sarasota destroying the cameras – which is exactly what happened in one city neighborhood earlier this month?
And if there are groups of people thinking about carrying out an orchestrated campaign to tear up Flock cameras in our city, shouldn’t they get that stupid and counterproductive idea out of their minds right now?
Really, “yes” is the only sensible answer to both questions.
Look, if you feel strongly that Flock cameras are “Big Brother” devices likely to be abused in Sarasota, here’s a better way to express those concerns: Demand more answers from city politicians and cops about why there are so many Flocks around – and demand more proof that they are actually making a productive difference.
And if you feel even more strongly about it, go ahead and use – in a totally legal way, of course – that app that helps you spot where Flock cameras are located.
Feel free.
Knock yourself out.
But knocking out or knocking down Flock cameras in Sarasota isn’t an act of noble resistance – it’s one of malicious idiocy.
It's just plain dumb.
Speaking of dumb, did I mention that there’s this property tax “reform” amendment in Florida …
Opinion Editor Roger Brown can be reached at roger.brown@heraldtribune.com. Follow him on X: RBrown_HTOpin.
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This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: So you hate Sarasota's Flock cameras? OK. But this is dumb. | Opinion
