From: Rebecca Jeschke
To: City Clerk
Subject: [EXTERNAL] ALPR notes for tonight"s meeting
Date: Tuesday, September 20, 2022 5:01:35 PM
Hello councilmembers. I’m currently the Managing Director for the Electronic Frontier Foundation — a group that works to narrow surveillance in cities and towns around the world — and also an Alameda resident, homeowner, and landlord for seven years. I’m recovering from Covid and won’t be able to attend tonight’s meeting, but I did want to throw a few concerns out there that I hope can be discussed:
- 30 day retention period is too long. The state of New Hampshire has a law that the data should be purged within three minutes of capture. Albuquerque went with 14 days. Alameda should be on the forefront of privacy protection, and cut the 30-day retention limit down. - Flock has a lot of language about how much else they can capture besides license plates (like audio!!), and is also offering an add-on for some of these features. Each new thing that the ALPR captures creates new privacy problems and should be discussed in detail if Alameda is going to expand the program with these features. Audio, in particular, is very sensitive — we don’t want these cameras picking up conversations. And even “shot spotter” type audio is notoriously misused. This stuff shouldn’t be slipped in here. - This may be a little outside the purview of this topic, but I noticed that Axon is Alameda’s digital evidence provider. A majority of Axon's Ethics Board resigned earlier this year because of the company’s behavior. Here is some more on that:
https://www.policingproject.org/statement-of-resigning-axon-ai-ethics-board-members I think
that Axon should be reconsidered as a vendor in light of that. - As always, I’ll end with the really important bit: ALPR systems track locations of residents – that’s you and me – as they travel on, off, and throughout the island, living their everyday lives. This impacts the privacy Alamedans, every day of the year. This data is very sensitive, and if you collect it, it is at risk. As the intended use of these license plate cameras are to “improve the safety and protection” of people who live, work, and visit in Alameda, the council should review the Police Department’s yearly audits with an eye to ending this program if the costs and benefits don’t pay off for the city and the people who drive around our island every day.
- As always, thank you so much for your time, and I’d be happy to answer any questions or be of any other help — Rebecca Jeschke
From: Trish Spencer
To: Lara Weisiger
Subject: Fwd: [EXTERNAL] Support of ALPRs
Date: Tuesday, September 20, 2022 3:04:19 PM
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Guy Blume <[email protected]>
Date: Sep 20, 2022 12:21 PM
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Support of ALPRs
To: CityCouncil-List <[email protected]>
Cc:
Hello Honorable Mayor and Council Members,
This letter serves as my support of the automatic license plate readers. Recently our Realtor group was voted Best Real Estate Agents in Alameda in 2022 by the Alameda Magazine reader's poll. As you can imagine we speak to existing and incoming residents in our day to day business and safety always comes up as a priority, not civil rights, not privacy, but safety.
One of our own teammates had her car hijacked with her daughter in the back child seat in February 2022. While her daughter was safely recovered later that evening in Alameda and the car was recovered in Oakland the outcome could have been tragic. It should be obvious that personal safety should take priority over all else and you have the power today to prevent future tragedies.
ALPRs is a tool and a deterrent to crime and I urge all of you to consider if it was YOUR child that was kidnapped and I respectfully ask you pledge your full support in favor of using this technology to provide safety for our community.
Thank you,
Guy Blume
1530 Fountain St.
Alameda, CA 94501
Keller Williams Realty
2437 Santa Clara Ave.
Alameda, CA 94501
--
Guy Blume
Group Leader, Realtor®
Guy Blume Group
DRE#01766434
(510) 846-4687
[email protected]
www.iLoveAlameda.com
2437 Santa Clara Ave, Alameda, CA 94501
The Guy Blume Group is an Award Winning Top Producing Real Estate Team with Experience You Can Trust EACH OFFICE IS INDEPENDENTLY OWNED AND OPERATED. BROKER DRE#02029039 I have not and will not verify or investigate the information supplied by third parties.
From: Trish Spencer
To: Lara Weisiger
Subject: Fwd: [EXTERNAL] Escalating Crime in Alameda
Date: Tuesday, September 20, 2022 3:01:52 PM
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Sunny Brandt <[email protected]>
Date: Sep 20, 2022 1:53 PM
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Escalating Crime in Alameda
To: City Attorney <[email protected]>,Gerry Beaudin <[email protected]>,John Knox White <[email protected]>,Manager Manager <[email protected]>,Marilyn Ezzy Ashcraft
<[email protected]>,[email protected],Tony Daysog <[email protected]>,Trish Spencer <[email protected]> Cc:
Dear Government Members of the City of Alameda,
I would like to bring to your attention an unfortunate incident that occurred this summer at Marina Village Yacht Harbor that greatly effected us. Our vehicle was broken into and ransacked over the weekend of July 9. The criminals were obviously experienced as they knew that if they were to go through the back window, it would not trigger the alarm. The only stolen item, to our knowledge was our sons house keys, which of course they would not know where he lives in Alameda. We can only assume that they intended to use them at the address listed in our registration documents which were strewn about the interior and states our address in Santa Cruz. This notion created high anxiety for us and kept us on edge all summer, not knowing if someone was going to attempt to use the keys at our home in Santa Cruz. Our pick up truck is a Dodge Ram 2500 with a large rear slider window and the repair cost was over $800.00. This is not the first time we have experienced theft in the business center parking lot. My husband had a very expensive bike stolen out of his vehicle several years ago.
After that incident we have always been sure to remove anything that would be visible or of importance from our vehicles during the times we have stayed at the harbor….hence the reason they only made off with our son’s keys this last time. The rear windows of the truck are tinted so they may have thought there was something of interest in the back seat . In any case, it is extremely uncomfortable when ever we park there over night. This has got to stop! We already have to haul our outboard for our dinghy back and forth, as these are common items that are stolen off the boats. We have personally witnessed the aftermath of other thefts in the parking lot as well. Not long ago a woman had her car broken into in broad daylight at the Target parking lot in Alameda. These are only examples of the numerous thefts taking place on a daily basis. When can we expect to feel safe again? Do we have to be on edge and high alert 24/7? This is not relaxing! What will and can you do as the governing officials of our city, to monitor and prevent these robberies? What steps can you take to support and financially assist these tax paying Alameda public areas and businesses to thwart these escalating crimes? Please step up and sincerely take action. We all are counting on you. Thank you.
Respectfully,
Sunny and Marvin Brandt
[email protected]
831-332-2889
From: Joe VanWinkle
To: Lara Weisiger
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Agenda Item: License Plate Reader
Date: Tuesday, September 20, 2022 2:56:29 PM
Attachments: We sent you safe versions of your files.msg Alameda Policing Crisis.pdf
Mimecast Attachment Protection has deemed this file to be safe, but always exercise caution when opening files.
Dear Mayor Ashcraft & Council,
Three Alameda Police Chiefs have requested automated license plate readers. City Council, after numerous meetings with public input, finally approved the license plate readers. And yet they are not installed, have not been ordered, and you continue to delay action – most recently by deferring the item from the last council agenda.
Auto Thefts in Alameda have increased substantially, up 79% from 2018 to 2021.
And in the first 7 months of 2022 there have been over 300 more auto thefts.
YEAR 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 – July
YTD
Auto Thefts 350 404 470 628 301
Source: APD Crime Statistics
Empirical studies provide evidence that license plate reader use can achieve demonstrable benefits in combating auto theft (with more plates scanned, more ‘‘hits,’’ more arrests and more recoveries with LPR).
(Bruce Taylor et al., Combating Vehicle
Theft in Arizona: A Randomized Experiment with License Plate Recognition Technology, CRIMINAL JUSTICE
REVIEW)
While the auto thefts alone would warrant Alameda installing license plate readers, the challenge and opportunity is greater. According to the International Association of Chiefs of Police, over 70% of all crime is committed with a vehicle. Hence, a license plate is an excellent way to track down suspects.
Alameda Police staffing has declined from 1.5 officers per 1,000 population in 2000 to just .9 in 2020, according to the FBI Crime Data Explorer website.
And annual spending on Alameda Police Officer Wages & Benefits is down more than $3m per year since 2015, as shown on the State Controller’s website.
So, it’s probably not surprising that Alameda Crime is up. Part One crimes, aka the serious offences, have increased 56% from 2012 to 2021.
You have an opportunity tonight to vote to help stop the increasing crime rate. Show your support for the brave men and women of the Alameda Police Department by approving the contract for automated license plate readers.
Sincerely,
Joe Van Winkle
Alameda Citizen since 1994
From: Trish Spencer
To: Lara Weisiger
Subject: Fwd: ALPR Purchase Agreement
Date: Tuesday, September 20, 2022 10:57:11 AM
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Thomas Davis <[email protected]>
Date: Sep 20, 2022 10:10 AM
Subject: [EXTERNAL] ALPR Purchase Agreement
To: CityCouncil-List <[email protected]>
Cc:
September 14, 2022
Re: ALPR Purchase Agreement
Dear Mayor Ashcraft and Council members,
I'm writing to encourage Council approval of the Police Chief’s recommendation for the above referenced agreement. I write because I am concerned that there are voices within our island community as well as on our Council that may seek to make this administrative action a last- ditch effort to prevent ALPRs from being used by APD.
As a policy issue and as prospective investigative tool, both our community and the Council have exhaustively spoken on this matter. The Council has publicly and carefully laid out the parameters for the implementation and use of these investigative tools. The vetting of the vendor of this equipment as well as the implementation of the policy should appropriately rest in the hands of the Police Chief.
My neighborhood has been the victim of countless non-violent crimes since I moved here in 2017. I have had my truck stolen (was found in Oakland) and catalytic converters stolen twice.
Most of my neighbors have been the victim of these same crimes or other non-violent crimes such as car break-ins and thefts. Please listen to the Police Chiefs recommendations and give them the tools they need to try and keep our community safe.
I understand that there have been many opportunities to vote in favor of ALPRs over the years and each time there were not enough votes. I very much hope that this time is different. --
Tom Davis
300 Laguna Vista
Alameda, CA 94501
From: Is Sullivan
To: John Knox White; Marilyn Ezzy Ashcraft; Tony Daysog; Trish Spencer; Malia Vella; City Clerk; Manager Manager Subject: [EXTERNAL] Item 6-A on 9/20/2022 Agenda
Date: Tuesday, September 20, 2022 8:02:17 AM
Dear Council,
Item 6-A is an overreach of police surveillance in Alameda and a disappointing departure from the direction given to Council by the Committee on Racial Justice and Police Reform. The Committee did not recommend that APD implement sweeping surveillance measures. They recommended community oversight over APD. Why is there no movement on oversight? (Why is there movement away from oversight
as seen in Item 7-B?) Meanwhile, the City
plans to funnel money into surveillance measures that reach beyond what was initially proposed, both in the number of locations of cameras and in the scope of details Flock will retain from the cars. This agreement with Flock should not be approved.
Sincerely,
Isabel Sullivan
From: Trish Spencer
To: Lara Weisiger
Subject: Fwd: ALPER Purchase Agreement
Date: Monday, September 19, 2022 10:41:35 PM
Attachments: We sent you safe versions of your files.msg BEHOA KARP ALPER Letter 9-19-2022.pdf
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Michael Karp <[email protected]>
Date: Sep 19, 2022 2:43 PM
Subject: [EXTERNAL] ALPER Purchase Agreement
To: CityCouncil-List <[email protected]>
Cc: Nishant Joshi <[email protected]>
Mimecast Attachment Protection has deemed this file to be safe, but always exercise caution when opening files.
Dear Honorable Mayor and City Council:
I attach a letter stating support our for the purchase of ALPER systems from the BEHOA Board of Directors.
Please attach to the record.
Yours,
Michael Karp
Head Coach
Alameda High School Mountain Bike Team
510-813-0113
[email protected]
www.alamedahornetsmtb.com
From: Trish Spencer
To: Lara Weisiger
Subject: Fwd: Time to Get the Promised License Plate Readers Operational Date: Monday, September 19, 2022 10:13:00 PM
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Gig Codiga <[email protected]>
Date: Sep 19, 2022 6:48 PM
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Time to Get the Promised License Plate Readers Operational To: Marilyn Ezzy Ashcraft <[email protected]>,Tony Daysog <[email protected]>,Trish Spencer <[email protected]>,John Knox White <[email protected]>,Malia Vella <[email protected]> Cc:
Honorable Mayor and Council Members.
First, thank you council members (Trish and Tony) and mayor (Marylin) for approving the License Plate Readers last Spring (2022).
Second, I wonder if the LPR would have helped the victims of the 13 Grand Theft Auto crimes that have taken place in the 7 day period of Sept 3 - Sept 9???? ASK:
Please approve the contract that your competent Police Chief, and city administrators have reviewed and recommended.
Let's get these LPR in place earlier than the end of the year. Each day is costing this community the Service
and Protection you, your family, your neighbors, and the Alamedans deserve.
The License Plate Readers are NOT a waste of money. As previously shared,
In
other communities LPRs have proven their worth by effectively reducing certain crimes.
Thank you!
Best Regards
Be Well
Gig Codiga
650-922-0554
Marilyn Ezzy Ashcraft <[email protected]>
Cc:
Malia Vella <[email protected]>; Tony Daysog
<[email protected]>; Trish Spencer <[email protected]>; John Knox White <[email protected]>
Subject:
[EXTERNAL] Automated License Plate Readers
From: Trish Spencer
To: Lara Weisiger
Subject: Fwd: [EXTERNAL] Automated License Plate Readers (ALPRs) Date: Monday, September 19, 2022 10:10:26 PM
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Dan Tuazon <[email protected]>
Date: Sep 19, 2022 10:08 PM
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Automated License Plate Readers (ALPRs) To: Marilyn Ezzy Ashcraft <[email protected]>,Trish Spencer <[email protected]>,Tony Daysog <[email protected]>,Malia Vella <[email protected]>,John Knox White <[email protected]> Cc:
Honorable Mayor and City Council Members:
I am well aware that the Council
approved moving forward with the ALPRs last spring,
However I am concerned that its implementation has not yet occurred.
I am also aware that
our Police Chief submitted to the Council his recommendation of the above referenced agreement.
Our City has experienced increased numbers of vehicle break-ins and theft throughout our neighborhoods.
I myself have been a victim of 3 vehicle break-ins, stolen license plates and 2 attempted vehicle thefts.
The person/persons responsible for these shameless acts remain unidentified.
I encourage you and the Council to approve the implementation of the agreement in the hands of the Police Chief.
Allow the Police Chief to have full accountability/responsibility of its implementation, after all Who is more qualified to make these decisions.
The Police Chief
with his credentials and experiences is well qualified to get this done.
Respectfully yours,
Dan Tuazon
Alameda Resident for over 60+ years
From: Trish Spencer
To: Lara Weisiger
Subject: Fwd: [EXTERNAL] Request for your support regarding Automated License Plate Readers (ALPR) Date: Monday, September 19, 2022 9:55:36 PM
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: WrldLee96 <[email protected]>
Date: Sep 19, 2022 9:32 PM
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Request for your support regarding Automated License Plate Readers (ALPR)
To: Marilyn Ezzy Ashcraft <[email protected]>,Malia Vella <[email protected]>,Tony Daysog <[email protected]>,Trish Spencer <[email protected]>,John Knox White <[email protected]> Cc:
Dear Honorable Mayor Ashcraft and City Council Members:
I was informed of an upcoming City Council agenda regarding the ALPR to help our City's police officers in crime prevention and help identify the criminals who try to commit crimes in our dear City.
Crime prevention and criminal accountability
have never resonated to me and my family so much until August 11, 2022.
That early morning of
August
11th, as we were preparing to drive my son back to
college for his college sophomore
year, we came out to discover not
one but both
our Hondas were stolen in front of our house.
Obviously, we reported this to the
police.
Our neighbors shared their outdoor video surveillance footage
which
showed a white GMC truck with no headlights turned on circling our neighborhood early in the morning and the criminals with hoodies and masks at around
4:00 AM
speeding off with our two Hondas along Bayview Drive in the High Street direction.
To make my long ordeal story short, you can see the end results of my two Hondas.
Both cars were found in Oakland,
filled with the smell of alcohol and
rolled up dollar
bills with suspicious
white powder.
I had to go to the Oakland tow
yard to claim them and pay the
associated
expenses out-of-pocket.
The Accord as
you can see it is in Honda Heaven.
The Civic, my son and I will try to salvage and
repair it.
The one totally crashed was a 1991 Honda Accord 4-door automatic transmission, and the one my son and I will try to salvage and repair is a 1989 Honda Hatchback Civic manual transmission.
Blue Book wise, these cars likely do
not have much cash value, but to our family, we are the original owners.
It was our
means outside of AC Transit and bicycling to go over to Oakland to take care of my Mother and her Chinatown grocery shopping every
Sunday.
It was our means to
load items from Costco beyond a bicycle and backpack.
It was our means to visit
family and friends conveniently beyond AC Transit-BART and then AC Transit back to Alameda on the weekends.
We kept them in good and clean conditions
passing emissions tests every time.
We are not the kind of people who buy cars
every five years or when a car lease is up, so think about who are the real environmentally conscious people in regard to cars. Trying to buy an environmental non-gas combustion vehicle now will take at least 6-months along with markups beyond MSRP.
Those are our own financial and personal issues these criminals brought to our family.
The point I am trying to make is that instead of the car smashing into something concrete like the way my Honda Accord was smashed, what would have happened if these criminals driving recklessly while drug and alcohol intoxicated smashed into an Alameda resident or someone we know in this small town with
a
stolen car?
Had only the police had tools such as ALPR in place for Alameda ideally as a crime prevention tool to deter criminals from coming into Alameda because they know their vehicle license
plates such as a white GMC truck will be
identified.
Perhaps, should a crime take place with a vehicle, ALPR can help our police identify, or share with neighboring Oakland police, Highway Patrol, or County Sheriffs to bring accountability to the people who committed the criminal
acts in Alameda.
If ALPR can help our Alameda police bring
accountability and justice to victims of crime, I believe tools such as ALPR need to be supported by our elected officials so no Alameda resident should go through the emotional and financial turmoil our family is going through.
And should an
Alameda resident or Alameda family go through such criminal violations, at least give our Alameda police the tools to help provide justice to the Alameda victims.
Thank you for your time.
Wallis Lee
349 Laguna Vista
Alameda, CA 94501
From: Paul Beusterien
To: John Knox White; Marilyn Ezzy Ashcraft; Malia Vella; Trish Spencer; Tony Daysog; Lara Weisiger; Manager Manager; Nishant Joshi
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Item 6-A: Supporting License Plate Readers Date: Monday, September 19, 2022 6:59:08 AM
As I talk to Alamedans in my run for City Council, crime is one of the biggest concerns. Our police force is telling us LPRs will help to reduce crime. Let’s provide the police force with the tools they need to do their job.
Oakland’s Mayor Schaaf, says “The need for a system that can capture vehicle descriptions and alert law enforcement to vehicles associated with violent crime, in real time, has never been more apparent. Such technology can multiply law enforcement efforts in a focused, intelligence-based manner, while still balancing the important privacy interests of the community.”
The police force can be held accountable for how they use these tools. Privacy rules, data access, and data retention limits should be enforced. We can leverage best practices from other Bay Area cities to do so, like
Piedmont’s LPR transparency portal.
Please vote to approve Item 6-A.
Paul Beusterien
From: Trish Spencer
To: Lara Weisiger
Subject: Fwd: ALPERs
Date: Sunday, September 18, 2022 8:30:41 PM
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: [email protected]
Date: Sep 17, 2022 9:59 AM
Subject: [EXTERNAL] ALPERs
To: CityCouncil-List <[email protected]>
Cc:
I can't believe that the ALPERS is up for discussion after so many years. If you would look at this weeks Alameda Sun's "Police Blotter" report you will see that a total of fourteen vehicles were stolen just last week. It's time to put this subject to bed. On my street recently a family lost two of there family vehicles during one night. It's time for action by our elected officials of this city. I am a resident for forty years. WCH Laguna vista
September 16, 2022
Reference: ALPR Purchase Agreement
Dear Honorable Mayor Ashcraft and Council Members:
This letter is to encourage Council Members to approve the Police Chief’s recommendation for the above referenced purchase agreement. I am writing because I am concerned that there are voices within our Island of Alameda communities as well as on our Council that may seek to make this administrative action a last-ditch effort to prevent APPRs from being used by Alameda Police Department.
As a policy issue and a prospective investigative tool, both our community and the Council have exhaustively spoken on this matter. The Council has publicly and carefully larid out the parameters for the implementation and use of the investigative tools. The vetting of the vendor of this equipment aw well as the implementation of the policy should appropriately rest in the hands of the Police Chief.
Otherwise, how else will the Chief be held accountable for such implementation? To delay or send back the Chief’s recommendation and endorsement would be a further disservice to our community, which continues to experience an elevated level of crime since the beginning of COVID 19 pandemic. More importantly, the perpetrators of many of the non-violent crime incidents in our community (such as auto theft) remain unidentified.
Thank you for your efforts on behalf of our community to support the resources of the Alameda Police Department to protect our citizens and property.
Kathleen Gregg Fricke
19 Shepardson Lane, Alameda CA 94502
September 16, 2022
Reference: ALPR Purchase Agreement
Dear Honorable Mayor Ashcraft and Council Members:
This letter is to encourage Council Members to approve the Police Chief’s recommendation for the above referenced purchase agreement. I am writing because I am concerned that there are voices within our Island of Alameda communities as well as on our Council that may seek to make this administrative action a last-ditch effort to prevent APPRs from being used by Alameda Police Department.
As a policy issue and a prospective investigative tool, both our community and the Council have exhaustively spoken on this matter. The Council has publicly and carefully larid out the parameters for the implementation and use of the investigative tools. The vetting of the vendor of this equipment aw well as the implementation of the policy should appropriately rest in the hands of the Police Chief.
Otherwise, how else will the Chief be held accountable for such implementation? To delay or send back the Chief’s recommendation and endorsement would be a further disservice to our community, which continues to experience an elevated level of crime since the beginning of COVID 19 pandemic. More importantly, the perpetrators of many of the non-violent crime incidents in our community (such as auto theft) remain unidentified.
Thank you for your efforts on behalf of our community to support the Alameda Police Department.
Carl Fricke
19 Shepardson Lane, Alameda CA 94502
From: Trish Spencer
To: Lara Weisiger
Subject: Fwd: [EXTERNAL] Automated License Plate Readers Date: Thursday, September 15, 2022 11:30:50 PM
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: [email protected]
Date: Sep 15, 2022 4:54 PM
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Automated License Plate Readers
To: Marilyn Ezzy Ashcraft <[email protected]> Cc: Malia Vella <[email protected]>,Tony Daysog <[email protected]>,Trish Spencer <[email protected]>,John Knox White <[email protected]> Honorable Mayor:
I'm in shock that we don't have the ALPRs already in place....you and I both grew up here so we know how bad the crime
has become in our little town by the bay.
This is a no brainer, please get it
done....start making some decisions that
help our town safe again....what's the problem here???? Why the red tape????
Please put your foot down and
let the Police Chief take control of this issue and get it done!!!!!
What's up with this City Council that holds up policies and procedures that keeps the
community safe?
I'm just
appalled at the inability to get the basic things done.
Please let me know why this is such a difficult issue to get accomplished, thank you.
Fellow Hornet,
Kathie Boothby
510-701-8173
From: Joyce Mercado
To: City Clerk
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Item 6-A support
Date: Thursday, September 15, 2022 4:59:52 PM
Hello,
I’m writing in support of passage of item 6-A automated license plate readers.
Please give our police this much
needed tool to combat crime in Alameda.
I want the police alerted whenever a stolen car enters our city for example.
Thank you!
Joyce Mercado
Sent from my iPhone
September 14, 2022ꢀ
Re: ALPR Purchase Agreementꢀ
Dear Honorable Mayor Ashcraft and Council members,ꢀ
This is to encourage Council approval of the Police Chief’s recommendation for the above referenced agreement. I write because I am concerned that there are voices within our island community as well as on our Council that may seek to make this administrative action a last- ditch effort to prevent ALPRs from being used by APD. ꢀ
As a policy issue and as prospective investigative tool, both our community and the Council have exhaustively spoken on this matter. The Council has publicly and carefully laid out the parameters for the implementation and use of these investigative tools. The vetting of the vendor of this equipment as well as the implementation of the policy should appropriately rest in the hands of the Police Chief.ꢀ
Otherwise, how else will the Chief be held fully accountable for such implementation? To delay or send back the Chief’s recommendation and endorsement would be a further disservice to our community, which continues to experience an elevated level of crime since the beginning of Covid. More importantly, the perpetrators of many of the non-violent crimes happening in all neighborhoods (such as auto theft) remain unidentified.ꢀ Michael Robles-Wongꢀ
From: Jennifer Rakowski
To: Nishant Joshi
Cc: City Clerk; John Knox White; Malia Vella; Manager Manager; Marilyn Ezzy Ashcraft; Matthew McMullen; Tony Daysog; Trish Spencer
Subject: Re: [EXTERNAL] Additional comments regarding 7E from last nights agenda Date: Thursday, September 8, 2022 9:23:15 AM
Chief Joshi,
Thank you, this is very helpful to know.
Jennifer Rakowski
On Thu, Sep 8, 2022 at 8:47 AM Nishant Joshi <
[email protected]> wrote:
Thank you for your email.
APD selected Flock knowing their retention period is 30 days and were in support of it.
Nishant Joshi
Chief of Police
Alameda Police Department
510-337-8300
From:
Jennifer Rakowski <[email protected]>
Sent: Wednesday, September 7, 2022 12:29 PM
To: John Knox White <[email protected]>; Manager Manager <[email protected]>; Matthew McMullen <[email protected]>; Nishant Joshi <[email protected]>; Trish Spencer <[email protected]>; City Clerk <[email protected]>; Marilyn Ezzy Ashcraft
<[email protected]>; Malia Vella <[email protected]>; Tony Daysog <[email protected]>
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Additional comments regarding 7E from last nights agenda
Dear City Council,
Below are additional comments regarding ALPR's which I had planned to make during public comment but am forwarding to you now in advance of the next council meeting.
Alameda police are already using Flock ALPR data. That can be found clearly stated in information from other cities such as Vallejo and San Mateo. These cities along with cities such as Morgan Hill, Saratago, Foster City, and Fairfield all limit data retention to 30 days. Flock as a company only maintains the cloud storage for 30 days as a matter of practice, which means that Alameda's decision to retain data for 60 days requires addition work, risk, and expense with questionable need.
I urge
City Council to adjust the retention time frame.
Thank you for your consideration,
Jennifer Rakowski
From: E. Fraser
To: City Clerk
Cc: Marilyn Ezzy Ashcraft; Tony Daysog; John Knox White; Trish Spencer; Malia Vella Subject: [EXTERNAL] Public Comment on License Plate Readers Date: Tuesday, September 6, 2022 3:00:56 PM
Dear City Council,
I read Jennifer Rakowski's public comment regarding the license plate readers.
I agree with
everything therein.
Jennifer is a respected member of our community and well informed on issues of policing. You should listen to Jennifer.
I will add one thing.
Three members of the council believe that these license plate readers are going to have a benefit for residents.
If ALPR data is what those members are after, why not
simply ask Oakland to send us their feed? If any yahoo who buys a Ring can access the cloud stream of video wherever they have an internet connection, surely the overpriced surveillance technology of ALPRs could likewise be shared to both Oakland and Alameda. That is to say, if you must spy on your constituents against their will, why not at least be good stewards of our money and do the free (or cheap) thing and ask to subscribe to the cameras which are already in place (as opposed to spending our money on new cameras to sit next to Oakland's existing cameras)?
By approving this contract as-is, the council would not only disrespect the privacy of its constituents, but also disrespect our pocketbooks.
Please exercise restraint in one or both of these respects. -Erin Fraser
From: Jennifer Rakowski
To: John Knox White; Manager Manager; Matthew McMullen; Nishant Joshi; Trish Spencer; City Clerk; Marilyn Ezzy Ashcraft; Malia Vella; Tony Daysog
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Item 7-E
Date: Tuesday, September 6, 2022 1:36:46 PM
Dear City Council,
City Council approved the acquisition of ALRP's by a narrow 3-2 vote.
As a Council, you have drifted away from the Racial Equity and Pollice Reform priorities you approved by unanimous vote last summer. Care teams focus has shifted from providing a non police response. Proposed language for a
charter amendment
regarding oversight has not come before council. The Police Auditor has not been hired.
Still the mission and permission creep on ALRP's continues. First, the cost of the project doubled. Now the number of locations has doubled. What does "One TBD (stationary but movable)" even mean?
This contract exceeds the scope of City Councils directive.
The vehicle fingerprint technology poses potential first amendment conflicts by storing information from bumper stickers and decals.
The potential add ins in this contract dramatically expand the scope of surveillance and the council should not approve use of the commercial AlRP network, CAD integration, ConvoyAnalysis, Multi Geo search, cradle point integration, Raven Audio detection or any other part of this contract which is outside of the original scope of work.
This contract if approved should include the no cost transparency portal with all data currently operationalized to be available, made available to the Alameda Public. This portal is not a replacement for a strong detailed audit trail.
The transparency portal
should include permissible and excluded uses, number and location of cameras, hotlist hits per month, searches per month, extended organization list accessing data, the cities complete ALRP policy and the ability for the public to provide comment or request data be removed from the system.
Alameda's policy and practices should make clear that ALRP technology should not be used by repossession companies, traffic enforcement, revenue collection, unpaid fines, towing, personal use, harassment, sharing with ICE, searching bumper stickers by race, gender, political affiliation or any other protected class.
Surveillance technology is expanding in scope not just within law enforcement and the city needs to bring forward and adopt a comprehensive surveillance and privacy protection policy. Flock's Safe List registry system for residents does not address this concern.
Thank you for your consideration,
Jennifers Rakowski