A look at what’s happening in Santa Cruz County politics & policy, from Flock Safety cameras in the city of Santa Cruz to Mid-County power outages and a “peace deal” on the passenger rail and trail.
Flock Safety cameras
Lookout news and Community Voices opinion coverage of Flock Safety automated license plate readers in Santa Cruz County.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
City of Santa Cruz pauses statewide license plate data-sharing, citing Flock Safety’s violation of California law
Santa Cruz will temporarily limit access to its license plate reader data from outside agencies and review its agreement with Flock Safety after the company acknowledged it had violated California law by allowing out-of-state law enforcement agencies to access local data.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Capitola police chief says immigration officials’ access to its license plate reader database was a mistake
Federal and out-of-state law enforcement agencies accessed databases with information collected by Capitola’s automated license plate readers on behalf of immigration officials between 2024 and early this year. Capitola’s police chief says it was a mistake.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
In the Public Interest: Decision day looms for Santa Cruz’s dueling affordable housing ballot measures
This week’s newsletter covering Santa Cruz County politics and policy highlights the stretch run for Measures B and C in the city of Santa Cruz, what’s on agendas for local city councils and commissions and other stories you might have missed.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Newsom just vetoed a bill to regulate license plate readers — even as fresh evidence of misuse emerges
Gov. Gavin Newsom vetoed a bill that would have required regular purges of license plate databases and regularly audited how automated plate readers are used. He said the regulations would have impeded criminal investigations.
Posted inOpinion from Community Voices
Watsonville council is betraying the community by approving Flock surveillance cameras
Watsonville leaders betrayed the community by approving 17 more Flock Safety surveillance cameras, writes a countywide grassroots coalition that opposes the cameras. The vote means Watsonville will have more than any other city in Santa Cruz County even as critics warn the devices erode privacy.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Watsonville leaders say controversial plan to expand license plate readers won’t undermine city’s sanctuary status
Watsonville officials are defending their city’s immigration sanctuary reputation amid an outcry from residents over a plan to nearly double the use of Flock Safety’s license plate surveillance cameras.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Watsonville votes to expand use of controversial Flock license plate readers despite immigration fears
The Watsonville City Council voted Tuesday night to renew a two-year contract with Flock Safety for automated license plate readers and add 17 more cameras throughout the city. Nearly 50 community members filled the council chambers to voice concerns over immigration enforcement risks.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Movement against police use of Flock Safety cameras gains momentum in Santa Cruz County
As Watsonville weighs renewing its Flock Safety camera contract, a new coalition is urging local cities to cut ties with the surveillance vendor, citing immigration risks and civil liberties concerns.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Santa Cruz, Capitola and Watsonville pledged not to cooperate with ICE. A controversial license plate reader may be undermining that promise.
Police in Santa Cruz, Capitola and Watsonville scan thousands of license plates daily thanks to a surveillance network that is used by hundreds of law enforcement agencies across the state, including at least one that has been found to be searching on behalf of federal authorities.