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PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE June 17, 2026 - Agenda Item 5 Public Comment From Victor Caballero
Date Tue 6/16/2026 9:14 PM
To Sabha, Tamer <[email protected]>,· Gao, Beilei <[email protected]>; Diaz, Eligio <[email protected]>
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Opposition to June 3-4 Military Exercises and the Ongoing Militarization of Pasadena
Pasadena Public Safety Committee,
tOON.GarfieldAve.
Pasadena, CA 91101
Subject: Opposition to June 3-4 Military Exercises and the Ongoing Militarization of Pasadena
Pasadena Public Safety Committee Members,
I am writing to express my profound outrage and strong opposition regarding the U.S. military urban warfare training exercises that were permitted to take place in our city on the night of June 3 and early morning of June 4, 2026. The fact that the city allowed our neighborhoods to be transformed into a simulated war zone is unacceptable, and the failure of this Council to take a stand and stop these activities is deeply concerning.
For hours, residents living near the former St. Luke Medical Center were subjected to the terrifying sounds of low-flying helicopters, flashbang grenades, controlled explosions, and simulated weapons fire lasting well past 1:00 a.m. To make matters worse, the city provided an absurd lack of advance notice, waiting until 5:30 p.m. the day of the exercise to alert the public. Treating our community as a literal training ground for military forces is disrespectful, disruptive, and dangerous. Why did the city administration not protect its residents and refuse to host this exercise?
Unfortunately, this incident does not exist in a vacuum; it is reflective of a broader and deeply troubling trend of militarization and hyper-surveillance right here at home. The Pasadena Police Department (PPD) continues to embrace a militarized approach to local law enforcement, spending city funds on new police helicopters and military-style weapons. We are a residential community, not an occupied territory, yet the ongoing militarization of the PPD treats our neighborhoods with a combat-oriented mindset.
Furthermore, this militarization is paired with an invasive dragnet of surveillance. The city's deployment of more than 60 Flock Safety automated license plate reader cameras to continuously monitor the movements of residents and visitors is a blatant violation of our civil liberties. These cameras track our daily lives indiscriminately, disproportionately target marginalized neighborhoods, and run the horrific risk of having our local data shared with federal immigration agencies like ICE. Academics and civil liberties groups overwhelmingly agree that this technology infringes on our privacy without providing evidence-based crime reduction.
It is time for the City Council to remember who it serves. We demand transparency, peace, and the protection of our constitutional rights.
I strongly urge the Council to:
Ban future military exercises: Pass a binding resolution prohibiting military "urban warfare" training exercises within Pasadena city limits.
Cancel Flock Safety contracts: End the city's use of automated license plate readers and remove these surveillance cameras from our streets.
Halt PPD militarization: Stop the acquisition of military-grade weapons and excessive aviation equipment by the Pasadena Police Department.
Pasadena should be a sanctuary for its residents, not a staging ground for military drills and a panopticon for police surveillance. I look forward to your prompt response and to seeing actionable steps taken at the next City Council meeting to address these urgent issues.
Sincerely,
Victor Caballero
Pasadena Resident