[{"_1":2,"_88":-5,"_89":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6230604,"mediaKeyId","3442148-72f479da100c4420df62fe69174cde1e","parentId",3442148,"title","Kent Higher Education Coalition urges caution on proposed surveillance cameras, praises council delay","audioSeconds",164,"startMs",1548000,"endMs",1712000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3442148-72f479da100c4420df62fe69174cde1e&start=1548&end=1712","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3442148-72f479da100c4420df62fe69174cde1e/thumbnail_1548000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6230604/Ohio/Kent-Higher-Education-Coalition-urges-caution-on-proposed-surveillance-cameras-praises-council-delay","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6230604-7130f11832a46ac352001d9daae5637a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771140357&Signature=cf1tzX2gb8~l~FjmaJ4h4YGU3zAbodzHB4n9vHsysqIVQq3FfvEJCnHXOALrOafKbJRsWhUwMjDzG6Ih5wZ62SDiZPfQ2tBXlFrls3aNXxZN4sYva6Fq8YgHmOd-SsL7S9uczvsoR6KYmn1MFGnvd7ONU0q9Ipyjp7rVYxSvDe4iMzkQL-ZOghZWSLQfujdoHcrJTQpFR6cJc2qUJaG6zziYcoGzw7Ro16szqwxKU582-JQYJUu5dUjLSjqLotdaaYEdlrxIgj-vFNHcRuFs1MhftKEAyJ3slcVakGwl1MJjmWYUSpTgC7lz~mr7P1fv2jMQOdHOTG-TjIEMX0wbDQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Kent, OH ","date","2025-05-22T08:35:54.563Z","article","Members of the Kent Higher Education Coalition told Kent City Council on May 19, 2025 that the group supports the council’s decision to delay a vote on proposed surveillance cameras and urged continued public engagement before any policy is adopted.

Gina Vargheba, speaking for the coalition, said the group — which she described as “a community of individuals who live, work, and study in Kent” — appreciated the council’s April 16 decision to pause the camera proposal to allow public input. “Given that we are extremely concerned about the potential consequences of employing this technology, we cannot know whether the data collected by these cameras will eventually be used to harm people,” Vargheba said. She asked the council to prioritize residents’ privacy and to provide more information about camera use, data storage and safeguards.

The coalition’s statement noted broader political and social concerns, referencing SB 1 and other recent state and federal actions as part of the context for heightened community concern about surveillance. The coalition asked the city to consider how data might be used or misused and to weigh alternatives, and it said surrounding towns already use license‑plate tracking systems — a practice the speakers said should not automatically justify the same approach in Kent.

The coalition offered to continue the dialogue with council and requested clear information on how collected data would be stored, who would have access, and how long it would be retained. The council did not take action on the cameras at this meeting; the remarks were delivered during the public comment portion of the agenda.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City of Kent, Ohio May 21, 2025 Regular City Council Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","Representatives of the Kent Higher Education Coalition asked the Kent City Council to delay adopting surveillance cameras citywide and urged the council to prioritize residents’ privacy, citing concerns about data storage, tracking and potential misuse of data.","taxTitle","Kent City Council, Kent City, Portage County, Ohio","taxId",69172,"location","Ohio","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6230610,"Kent council adopts 2025 CDBG annual action plan after second required public hearing",70,870000,940000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3442148-72f479da100c4420df62fe69174cde1e&start=870&end=940","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3442148-72f479da100c4420df62fe69174cde1e/thumbnail_870000.jpg","/articles/6230610/Ohio/Kent-council-adopts-2025-CDBG-annual-action-plan-after-second-required-public-hearing","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6230610-0667eec653ace06c2b5c1c6ae9fe9233/orig.mp4?Expires=1771140357&Signature=Putcecp482Hm1j72PZ77Hi5D70E~dLFbx~l2jqwowprmxw8cfZA1FPAM1k-50t5OfOvSswgolOA~f2JxzTOqTkB8PQukgboDWz3cH-gQjPNuy1YnbD0OR0HR-b1mgpdTcpz3uTNnrSi6B2~aU8Gn7q3gl0vu9AsNftFIj-MdP6mQLrpOjCa-yexmTwBnJ92fH6fLi8VV3ZzGGLuTsU3dCQFk9-7I5id5kwTkL25s59~0gKaA5CFkSwBC7jf9pZdB5Eh77r5zzcqfiL10pfY~dSPhIuQSV3Vfs3hlFbQxaJBiOGM6u1MM~FiufYy18qjcX0VBRyzLd3qmBr6FZq89WA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Kent City Council on May 19, 2025 adopted an ordinance approving the city’s 2025 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) annual action plan and the 2025–2029 consolidated plan following the second of two required public hearings under Title I of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974.

The plan, which staff said guides use of CDBG funds for 2025 and sets goals for the five‑year consolidated plan, passed on a roll call vote after councillors voted to suspend the rules and adopt the ordinance as an emergency measure. The ordinance is recorded in the agenda as Draft 2025‑44.

A staff member presenting the hearing told the council that “100% of our funding is always committed to low to moderate income activities that either supportive services or housing.” The same staff member said the city’s actual federal allocation arrived that day and was about $20,000 less than the estimate used in planning. The staff member told the council the shortfall could be offset by repayments to the city’s revolving loan fund and by reallocating funds from projects that are spending more slowly, and that staff had about eight months to make adjustments before program year spending deadlines.

The ordinance authorizes the filing and execution of the consolidated plan and related certifications under Title I of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 and, upon award of the federal grant, authorizes appropriation of funds. The council recorded unanimous support during roll call for suspension and adoption; the transcript shows multiple members answering “Yes” during the roll calls for suspension and adoption.

The CDBG program provides federal funds for city activities that the presenter said are targeted to low‑ and moderate‑income residents. At the hearing, the staff member noted three current emergency lateral replacement projects that are being covered by existing program funds and the use of revolving loan income for emergency repair assistance.

No public speakers asked questions during the hearing, and council members moved on to other business after adoption.

What happens next: staff will reconcile the $20,000 allocation shortfall by applying repayment receipts and reallocating slower‑spending project funds, then proceed with grant acceptance and appropriation if the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development awards the funds as expected.","The Kent City Council voted to adopt the city’s 2025 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) annual action plan and the 2025–2029 consolidated plan after a second required public hearing; staff said the award is $20,000 below last year’s estimate and plans to offset the shortfall with revolving loan repayments and reallocations.","actionData","errors"]

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Kent Higher Education Coalition urges caution on proposed surveillance cameras, praises council delay

Kent council adopts 2025 CDBG annual action plan after second required public hearing