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Caller at Spokane County meeting opposes traffic cameras, license-plate readers and proposed AI/data centers
Summary
A caller who identified herself as Linda urged Spokane County commissioners Feb. 4 to reject traffic cameras and license-plate readers and expressed opposition to county-supported AI or data center projects that she said would consume water, power and taxpayer dollars.
A caller identified as Linda told the Spokane County Board of Commissioners during the open public forum Feb. 4 that she opposed installing traffic cameras and license-plate readers in Spokane County and said she did not want county investment in AI or data-center projects.
"I have a right to travel freely. I have a right to my privacy," Linda said, objecting to what she described as tracking and surveillance proposals she had heard discussed at a strategic commissioners meeting. She said she worried about county spending on surveillance infrastructure and about data centers consuming large amounts of water and electricity.
Linda also argued that human responses — more police officers or social-service outreach — would be preferable to automated monitoring, and questioned the cost of ongoing surveillance programs. "What is the cost to having a data manager? What is the cost when we've got citizens sitting on the street? A helpful policeman or a social services person is way more expedient than having AI watch us," she said.
Why it matters: the caller referenced prior discussion at a separate strategic meeting and urged the board to consider privacy, cost and resource impacts before supporting surveillance or large-scale AI infrastructure. The board did not respond on the record during the open forum.
Ending: Linda closed by quoting Benjamin Franklin on liberty and safety and urged commissioners to "use our money wisely."
