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Committee advances York SafeNet camera network to Oct. 7 agenda despite public concern over AI and facial recognition
Summary
York SafeNet's nonprofit-backed proposal and Logos Works presentation moved forward to the Oct. 7 legislative agenda. Supporters cited examples of reduced violent incidents after camera deployment; public commenters pressed for strict limits on artificial intelligence and facial-recognition use and independent oversight.
The committee voted to place a resolution supporting advancement of the York SafeNet public camera network—an effort organized by a newly formed 501(c)(3) called York SafeNet—on the Oct. 7 legislative agenda. The resolution received one recorded opposition during the committee vote.
Eric Menzer, chair of the York SafeNet board, told the committee the project is being brought by the nonprofit organization (York SafeNet) and not by a private contractor, although Logos Works is the project’s vendor and organizing consultant. Menzer described a governance structure for the nonprofit and said the board membership and draft policies are included in the committee packet.
Otto Monroy, president of Logos Works, summarized work completed since late 2023, including development of governance and operational policies, a draft map proposing 140 camera locations, and a capital feasibility study. Monroy said the feasibility study indicated capital costs look easier to raise than sustainable annual operating funds, which will likely require public-private partnerships.
Commissioner Muldrow (York City Police Department) described the Penn Park camera pilot as a case study: he said his team compared the first four months without cameras to the first four months after cameras were installed and reported violent incidents fell from 28 to 1 in that comparison period. He said the system’s visible presence and transparency about coverage contributed to the effect.
Several council members and supporters described potential public-safety and non-criminal uses for the system, such as locating missing persons or adults with dementia, and emphasized the need for equitable camera placement across neighborhoods. Logos Works said draft policies and a transparency plan accompany the proposal.
Public commenters raised civil‑liberties and technology concerns. Manuel Gomez, a technology‑background resident, praised policy early in the process but urged stronger guardrails for artificial intelligence and facial‑recognition tools. He recommended an independent public registry of camera technology, explicit prohibition or constraints on facial recognition in policy language, “human‑in‑the‑loop” safeguards and clear termination or rollback clauses. Gomez asked the committee to “pump the brakes” until those specifics are included.
After discussion the committee moved, seconded and approved placing the York SafeNet resolution on the Oct. 7 legislative agenda; the transcript records one member voting in opposition during the voice vote.
