Officials Delay Vote on Neighborhood Surveillance Cameras

Fremont city leaders have postponed voting on a controversial video surveillance program until next year, but not because of privacy concerns.

The Argus reports that the primary concern for City Council members Tuesday night was where the money would come from.

The police department asked the City Council to use just over $160,00 in grants earmarked for low-income neighborhoods to install 20 video cameras on public buildings and streetlights. The grant funds were supposed to be used on community services but were freed up when an affordable housing developer delayed a project.

Councilman Vinnie Bacon, who was in favor of the surveillance program as a crime-fighting tool, said the funds should be used to help poor communities, according to The Argus. Other leaders echoed his concerns.

Councilmembers voted unanimously to revisit the item in February so that city staff could identify other money sources for the surveillance programs.

Some residents, however, weren’t so keen on the idea. One speaker Tuesday night said, “It makes my skin crawl to know I’ll be spied upon,” according to the Argus.

But Tuesday night’s meeting wasn’t the place for that discussion. City staff told The Argus that the meeting was specifically for the reallocation of funds and that public outreach on the topic, including a town hall-style meeting, will take place in coming months.

Read the full Argus report here. 

How do you feel about installing surveillance cameras in Fremont neighborhoods? Tell us in the comments.