Tuesday night’s Fort Wayne City Council meeting’s public comment period was chocked full of bipartisan opposition to renewal of the city’s contract with Flock.
The Flock license-plate reading cameras have drawn scrutiny and outrage around the country amid allegations of misuse by law enforcement and concerns about increased surveillance.
A democratic candidate for Allen County Commissioner and a republican community member have teamed up for an anti-FLock email campaign. The two threatened to organize primary campaigns against any councilmember who voted for the cameras.
Resident Ashley Grogg says they will organize primary campaigns against any council member who voted for the cameras.
"This Flock issue is bipartisan," she said. "And I would love it for my friends out there who are conservative like me, regular primary voter, mind you, we're a little upset because y'all aren't listening."
One man said he was a member of conservative group Americans for Prosperity and felt that standing up against the renewal of the contract was a matter of liberty.
One self-described “unemployed soccer mom” took it upon herself to drive around the city to find all the Flock cameras identified on anti-Flock websites.
She says she found more than the 36 the city claims and the 11 identified as belonging to Allen County–finding a total of nearly 60 including LPR cameras at places like Lowe’s and Meijer.
Most city council members left prior to the comment period, leaving those speaking frustrated and calling them out by name.
