From: Noa Lewin
Sent: Tuesday, February 17, 2026 1:11 PM
To: City Council <[email protected]>
Subject: Concerns over amendment 8.80.030 D
Sebastopol City Councilmembers,
I am writing to you as a Sonoma County resident who cares about the privacy and security of my fellow residents.
Sebastopol has the best surveillance protections in Sonoma County. I am confused as to why you are considering exempting traditional security cameras from your technology ordinance instead of upholding the original protections. The proposed amendment
8.80.030 D would allow the City to use images, videos and audio from traditional security cameras, like Ring cameras, without any protections.
Excepting traditional security cameras from the ordinance would render the ordinance meaningless. Your current ordinance already allows law enforcement to temporarily acquire or use surveillance technology in emergency circumstances. Sec. 8.80.040. Rather than gut the ordinance, if there’s a need, expand the definition of what constitutes “exigent circumstances that would expose citizens to a major risk to the public safety.” Sec.
8.80.125.
You are being asked to decide whether Sebastopol will continue to be a leader in protecting our civil liberties or will be a leader in violating them. Please choose wisely.
Thank you,
Noa Lewin