From: Alyn Wolves
Sent: Tuesday, February 17, 2026 12:08 PM
To: City Council <[email protected]>
Subject: Public Comment on Modification of Surveillance Technology Ordinance
Hello,
My name is Alyn, and I was born and raised in Sebastopol. I am absolutely a product of Sebastopol's progressive values. When Sebastopol became the first city in the U.S. to elect a Green Party Majority on its city council, I was not remotely surprised. It was absolutely in line with these progressive values.
When I discovered that Sebastopol was considering monitoring it's technology ordinance, I couldn't believe it at first. This was most definitely NOT the Sebastopol I know and love. I was PROUD of Sebastopol for being the only city in the county with a strong Surveillance Technology Ordinance. As someone who's worked in technology their whole life, I am well aware of all of the reasons we need this type of thing.
Weakening the technology ordinance, *especially* right now, when ICE is using that very same technology to tear communities apart and disappear family members, is possibly the most un-Sebastopol thing I can think of. I have used your ordinance in public comment to other city councils to urge them to get rid of their own FLOCK cameras which are insecure and have been shown to give data to both ICE and the general unsecured internet at large.
This proposal is downright dystopian. When people install doorbell cams, they do so for the purpose of being able to see who's at their door before answering, or to make it seem like someone is home when nobody is, for safety reasons. They do NOT do so in order to spy on their community for the police. I urge you - KEEP SEBASTOPOL SEBASTOPOL! Keep the Surveillance Technology Ordinance as it is currently written (Or, strengthen it! We need all of the protection we can get right now!)
Regards,
Alyn Wolves