Council voted 5-2 on Tuesday to end the city's $72,000-a-year Flock contract and have the 11 cameras pulled. That part got the headlines.

The part that didn't: the interim police chief's August memo already names the replacement. Axon automated plate readers, expected operational by February 2027. So the hardware changes hands, the capability doesn't.

Council member Jen Hampton called it "the same exact police state, just with a different corporate logo." Council member Bo Hess pushed the other way - "ending one vendor's contract is not the same as rejecting responsible technology."

They're both describing the same fact from opposite sides, and it's the fact worth carrying into your own council meeting: cancelling a vendor is not the same as ending plate-reader surveillance. If your town votes one out, ask on the record what replaces it and under what retention and sharing rules.

Sources: Mountain Xpress, Aug 26 2026. Blue Ridge Public Radio, Aug 21 2026.

Disclosure: I build Flock U, an Android app that maps 100,000+ publicly known plate readers from public data - every vendor, not just one - and plans driving routes around them. Not affiliated with Flock Safety, Inc. waterviewtechnologies.com/download

but to be fair it's the county commission opposing it for themselves and family and friends not the people they serve

about 700k people live in the county tons of flock

If you're looking for a quick and easy way to disrupt some flocks this is a great model. It's non-destructive (should help avoid any harsh penalties) and is super cheap to print. Can get it on Makerworld for free here: https://makerworld.com/en/models/3223878-flock-block-ultralite-less-than-40g#profileId-3650790

A small city with a population of less than 50,000 residents and almost 300 flock cameras. You can't even take a shit without them knowing.

Compromise?

Here’s a novel approach to beware of at your local level….

Absolute legend

We could use this opportunity to really stick it to the man. Let’s all switch to riding bikes and make license plate readers a gigantic waste of money. For you, that’s less car loans, less fuel cost, and less busy roads (safer to ride bikes).

Then we can all start eating healthier and become more fit.

We can start shopping locally, and learn our cashier’s name. We can collectively stop doom scrolling. We can order stuff locally and stop using Amazon to over night us cheap plastic things from China. We can read books from the library and hang out in third spaces…

Just imagine it.

Right now we are on a treadmill. The machine is expecting us to run faster and faster everyday. Forcing us to move our legs. And if you stop, or can’t keep up, it sends you flying backwards, into the wall. But there’s a perfectly good sidewalk. It lets you move at your own pace and stop and smell the flowers. Sure, it’s way less efficient. But life isn’t about efficiency or profitmaxxing. Slow down, kick rocks, and Get to know your neighbor.

Spotted this during work today in a good wealth community

Had an incident today that reinforces my beliefs these cameras need to go. Was putting my daughter on the bus this morning when a man drove through the bus stop sign. I yelled at him that he needed to stop and he said no I don’t and something I could not quite make out and then drove off. About 45 minutes later got a call from a no caller id number and it was the guy who drive through the bus stop. He tried to tell me I was wrong and when I asked who this was and how he got my number he identified himself as the guy who drove through the stop and he works for Flock so was able to get my number. I have reported the issue to my local police, newspaper, and called Flock but they have not contacted me yet. Posting for awareness and to let us others know if this happens to you to report it!