Overview
- The Public Safety Subcommittee split 2-2 Tuesday night, stopping the $2.25 million, two-year contract from advancing to the full council.
- The proposal would have kept OPD operating 292 license-plate readers and added up to 40 additional cameras with live video capability.
- More than 100 speakers, most opposed, warned the system could compromise privacy and Oakland’s sanctuary commitments.
- Police said the city owns the data, deletes non-evidentiary scans after 30 days, and does not share with out-of-state or federal agencies, while Flock cited an 11% rise in clearance rates and use in homicide cases.
- The decision comes as scrutiny intensifies regionally, including a lawsuit by Brian Hofer against Oakland, EFF and ACLU litigation in San Jose, and Santa Cruz pausing participation in Flock’s statewide search system.