KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) – The debate over Flock license plate readers flared up again at last night’s Kalamazoo city commission meeting and some unexpected defenders came forward on behalf of public safety.
A group called “Get the Flock out of Kalamazoo” has been arguing that the automated camera system that photographs the license plates of passing cars is an invasion of privacy that can be used by the Trump administration to round up immigrants and dissidents.
Several of them spoke again last night, with many refusing to give their names.
Local civil rights leaders, northside pastors, neighborhood officials, and even a state of Michigan civil rights official spoke in favor of maintaining the cameras.
NAACP president Wendy Fields offered to hold a community forum, to clear the air.
Pastors Daniel Cunningham and Greg Jennings seem satisfied that the local system has been isolated from federal hacks and that it fights crime.
Resident Alejandro Rodriguez and former city commissioner Esteban Juarez also spoke in favor of the crime fighting system.
Rodriguez gave a lengthy list of the times it has helped Kalamazoo investigators identify thieves, locate missing kids, derail the X-train and catch killers, including the suspect in last week’s shooting death in the Vine neighborhood.
It’s been mostly a public debate. City commissioners have not taken a position on the issue one way or another and are apparently happy with the status quo.
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