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Cleveland Administration Seeks to Replace Flock License Plate Readers with Axon Technology

Cleveland Administration Seeks to Replace Flock License Plate Readers with Axon Technology

Mayor Justin Bibb's administration in Cleveland is requesting City Council approval for a new contract with Axon Enterprises to provide license plate readers, replacing the current system from Flock Safety. Axon, formerly TASER International, already supplies body cameras and the Fusus software platform to Cleveland police, which integrates data from various surveillance systems. The proposed contract is for one year with renewal options, and the cost has not yet been disclosed. A city spokesperson stated that Axon's system offers tools and accountability measures to protect civil liberties while supporting public safety. This move comes after City Council approved a six-month extension with Flock Safety, contingent on the city soliciting proposals from other companies, following a refusal by City Council Member Mike Polensek to bypass council for renewal. The Cleveland Community Police Commission is also reviewing the policy governing police use of license plate readers, with an online survey open until N...

Cleveland City Council Considers Switching License Plate Reader Vendor from Flock to Axon Amidst Controversy

Cleveland City Council Considers Switching License Plate Reader Vendor from Flock to Axon Amidst Controversy

Cleveland City Council is currently debating an emergency ordinance that proposes switching the city's automated license plate reader (ALPR) vendor from Flock to Axon Enterprises, Inc. This discussion follows ongoing controversy surrounding ALPR technology in Northeast Ohio. The Department of Public Safety introduced the ordinance, advocating for Axon's platform, which they believe offers necessary tools, controls, and accountability measures to protect civil liberties while supporting public safety. However, Councilman Mike Polensek, chair of the Public Safety Committee, noted that the proposal lacks detailed information, including dollar amounts, and requires further review. Other council members, like Ward 12 Councilman Tanmay Shah, and resident groups such as FlockNo, express concerns that switching vendors does not address the fundamental issues with the technology itself, particularly regarding potential data sharing with federal agencies like ICE, DHS, or Customs and Border Patrol, and Axon's broade...

Columbia, MO City Council Votes Against Renewing Flock Safety Camera Contract Amid Privacy Concerns

Columbia, MO City Council Votes Against Renewing Flock Safety Camera Contract Amid Privacy Concerns

The City Council of Columbia, Missouri, has decided not to renew its contract with Flock Safety, a company providing license plate reading cameras. This decision, made with a 5-2 vote, comes after significant public opposition, with residents citing privacy concerns and potential misuse of the technology by public safety personnel. Despite the vote, the Columbia Police Department will continue to utilize the existing Flock cameras until their contract officially expires in March. Fourth Ward councilperson Sharon Jones stated that this decision marks the initial step in evaluating how the city can effectively balance public safety needs with residents' privacy rights. She is also reviewing the city's Community Control Over Police Surveillance ordinance and plans to request reports from various city departments, including Utilities and Parks and Recreation, to understand their surveillance needs and explore alternative solutions. Currently, the city operates over 100 Flock cameras, with 16 managed by police ...

Quincy Officials Debate Future of Automatic License Plate Readers Amid Privacy Concerns

Quincy Officials Debate Future of Automatic License Plate Readers Amid Privacy Concerns

Officials in Quincy, Massachusetts, are currently debating new regulations for automatic license plate reader (ALPR) cameras. This discussion follows months of public debate regarding privacy and public safety concerns surrounding the city's previous system, which utilized Flock Safety cameras. The city had one of the highest concentrations of these cameras in Massachusetts, but they have since been deactivated. Mayor Thomas Koch indicated that Quincy plans to transition to a different system, which he stated would be entirely internal, limiting data access solely to the Quincy police for investigative purposes. Despite this proposed change, opposition to the technology persists among some residents. Quincy Police Chief Mark Kennedy has defended the use of ALPRs, asserting their effectiveness in accelerating investigations by providing leads in minutes rather than days. He also refuted claims that the technology tracks individuals or employs facial recognition, stating he would oppose it if those claims we...

Columbia Labor Union Initiates Petition to Restrict City's Use of Flock Safety Cameras

Columbia Labor Union Initiates Petition to Restrict City's Use of Flock Safety Cameras

Members of Laborers' Local 955 in Columbia, Missouri, have launched an initiative petition to impose new restrictions on the city's use of Flock Safety cameras. This effort began as residents protested outside City Hall against the surveillance technology. The petition aims to amend the Columbia Code of Ordinances by adding two new sections. One section broadly addresses data privacy and responsible data stewardship, while the other specifically targets automatic license plate readers (ALPRs). The proposed ordinance would mandate that the city collect only personal information deemed 'reasonably necessary for legitimate government purposes' and limit access to authorized personnel. It also seeks to prevent the use of personal data for monitoring constitutional rights, creating non-governmental profiles, or making decisions based solely on unverified automated predictions. These changes would apply to data gathered from various technologies, including surveillance cameras, ALPRs, body-worn cameras, and dron...

Cleveland Community Police Commission Opens Applications for Violence Prevention Grants, Addresses Backlog

Cleveland Community Police Commission Opens Applications for Violence Prevention Grants, Addresses Backlog

The Cleveland Community Police Commission has opened a new application period for grants aimed at community groups involved in violence prevention, restorative justice, or mediation. This initiative is funded by a city charter mandate, allocating 0.5% of the Cleveland Division of Police's budget to these grants, which amounted to nearly $1.4 million this year. The commission has been working to resolve a significant backlog of unpaid awards dating back to 2023. Executive Director Shalenah Williams, who was hired in January, and her team have made progress, reporting that 80% of 2023 awards and over 70% of 2024 awards have been paid out. The new application period closes on November 30, with the commission expecting to finalize the process by March. Eligible groups must be Cleveland-based nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status or have a fiscal agent. Grants are available in two categories: up to 15 grants for organizations with annual budgets under $1 million, a history of neighborhood service, and limited extern...

EFF and ACLU File Amicus Brief Urging Warrant Requirement for ALPR Searches in Sixth Circuit

EFF and ACLU File Amicus Brief Urging Warrant Requirement for ALPR Searches in Sixth Circuit

The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) have filed an amicus brief with the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals in the case of *United States v. Sturdivant*. The brief argues that law enforcement's use of Automated License Plate Reader (ALPR) data to track individuals constitutes a 'search' under the Fourth Amendment, thereby requiring a warrant. The case involves police in Cleveland, Ohio, who used ALPR databases (Flock and ELSAG) to track a suspect's vehicle near robbery sites without a warrant, leading to an arrest. The district court previously ruled that the defendant had no reasonable expectation of privacy in his license plate number because it is publicly observable. However, the EFF and ACLU contend that ALPR systems create a 'virtual time machine' of past movements, far exceeding casual public observation and amounting to indiscriminate mass surveillance. They cite a recent federal district court ruling that recognized ALPRs as a form of mass surveillance...

Cleveland Unveils Reimagined Downtown Lakefront Plan Without NFL Stadium

Cleveland Unveils Reimagined Downtown Lakefront Plan Without NFL Stadium

Cleveland's downtown lakefront is undergoing a complete reimagining following the Browns' planned move to Brook Park. Scott Skinner, executive director of the North Coast Waterfront Development Corporation, detailed the new framework for the area. What was initially a 25-acre site centered around an NFL stadium has expanded to a 50- to 60-acre extension of downtown. The new plan includes a comprehensive street grid, updated utilities, and long-term development phasing. Skinner emphasized the need to 'reset' the vision, incorporating past community input into a plan that no longer features a stadium as its anchor. The framework focuses on both physical and social infrastructure, aiming to create a welcoming and familiar space for Clevelanders. Key elements include first-floor retail spaces for small and minority-owned businesses, preservation of existing uses like fishing piers, and the design of public spaces that foster a sense of ownership among residents. The plan also introduces a flexible street grid ...

Ohio Identifies Top Tech Companies to Watch in 2027, Highlighting State's Growing Innovation Hub

Ohio Identifies Top Tech Companies to Watch in 2027, Highlighting State's Growing Innovation Hub

Ohio Identifies Top Tech Companies to Watch in 2027, Highlighting State's Growing Innovation Hub

Machine Gun Kelly Expands '27 Club' Coffee Shop Chain to Brooklyn and Miami

Machine Gun Kelly Expands '27 Club' Coffee Shop Chain to Brooklyn and Miami

Machine Gun Kelly Expands '27 Club' Coffee Shop Chain to Brooklyn and Miami

What grade did CBS Sports give the Browns for their Week 9 effort?

What grade did CBS Sports give the Browns for their Week 9 effort?

CBS Sports has graded the Browns' efforts from Week 9.

Cleveland Planning Commission Approves Design for 6,200-Seat Riverfront Amphitheater

Cleveland Planning Commission Approves Design for 6,200-Seat Riverfront Amphitheater

Cleveland Planning Commission Approves Design for 6,200-Seat Riverfront Amphitheater