West Hollywood public comments split over ALPR 'Flock' contract as activists demand transparency

Public comment at the July 27 Public Safety Commission meeting focused heavily on the city's Flock automated license-plate reader program, with residents offering sharply different assessments of its effectiveness and transparency.

A resident announced on the agenda as Nick, who said he is organizing a campaign called "Flock Off," told commissioners the program rests on a $1,470,000 no-bid contract and reported a 7% hit rate. He argued the system builds a persistent record of who is where and when and said, "Nobody consented to that record, and everybody is in it now." Nick asked the commission to seek monthly outcome reporting and to publish a map showing where the fixed cameras are located so residents do not have to file records requests to learn about the surveillance footprint.

In contrast, Stephanie Harker, who identified herself as a city resident and cofounder of Protect Plummer Park, told the commission she supported the council's decision to continue the Flock cameras and credited them with helping to catch a burglary at a local bank: "Big Brother's been watching for many, many, many years. We don't want to take these away as a good tool for the sheriffs."

Speakers at the meeting also presented competing data about the system's yields. One public commenter later summarized June results as generating 88 stolen-vehicle alerts that produced six investigations and three recoveries, with two suspects taken into custody, and said that ratio did not justify renewing the program without stronger transparency measures.

The commission did not take formal action on the contract at this meeting; commissioners and staff discussed data-reporting options and a future public dashboard for safety technology programs. Members urged continued public engagement and asked staff to ensure that council and commission comments had been captured in prior staff reports to the city council.