Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Comment topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Residents press council on Flock camera privacy; Pride defender and Junth organizer urge support
Summary
During citizen comment, Heather Cameron raised privacy and data‑security questions about expanding Flock cameras; Mary Johnson defended the Pride festival and drag performances against social‑media criticism; Raven Jones, Junth organizer, asked for stronger city support and communication for Junth events.
Several residents used the public‑comment period at the June 16 meeting to press the council on surveillance, community events and outreach.
Heather Cameron of 77 Bavarian Street raised a series of privacy and data‑security questions about Flock camera deployments, asking who has access to the recordings, whether the city maintains a public database, which cloud provider stores the data, whether data is shared or sold to private companies, and which law‑enforcement agencies are authorized to receive footage. "Who’s getting this data of where I’m traveling every day?" she asked, and said she would also submit her concerns by email.
Mary Johnson, co‑chair of Middletown Pride and past chair of Downtown Middletown, Inc., told the council the Pride Festival brought thousands of attendees and boosted downtown businesses. She defended drag performances against online critics, saying there was "no lewd behavior or foul language" and that the performers tailored their shows for mixed‑age audiences. "Drag is not a crime. If you don't like it, don't watch it. But don't try to take away other people's right to watch drag shows or their parental right to decide what their children should or should not watch," she said.
Raven Jones, who organizes Junth/Juneteenth celebrations, said she has struggled to secure consistent support and communication from city partners and the library, and that she is raising funds herself this year. She asked the council for stronger partnerships so events that serve Black youth and families get reliable backing.
Council members thanked speakers, praised Pride organizers and highlighted a calendar of upcoming community events including Junth/Juneteenth activities, a July 3 Independence Day festival and the July 4 parade. No formal action was taken at the meeting on surveillance policy or event funding; city staff told speakers that comment cards will be routed to the city manager and that staff will follow up as appropriate.
