According to an email from the City, the Public Safety Committee is receiving a “large amount of correspondence” ahead of Wednesday’s meeting, where officials are expected to continue a discussion over the use of Flock automated license plate readers.
The Committee is scheduled to revisit the issue surrounding the surveillance technology, which has drawn criticism from civil liberties advocates, immigrant-rights supporters and some residents concerned about privacy and data sharing with federal agencies.
Much of the public opposition has centered on fears that information collected through the cameras could ultimately be accessed by immigration authorities or used in broader surveillance efforts.
“There is a very large amount of email correspondence received by the City regarding Item 3 on Wednesday’s Public Safety Committee Meeting Agenda,” according to the email, which also explained the files are too large to send as PDF attachments.
The attachments were shared via a series of links.
“Flock’s indiscriminate surveillance is in conflict with constitutional protections and numerous civil liberties groups such as the ACLU and the Electronic Frontier Foundation arguing that the technology infringes on Americans’ right to privacy under the Fourth Amendment,” wrote Robin Marches. “Despite repeated attempts from Flock to reform their system, it is apparent ALPR is problematic and can have devastating consequences for innocent individuals. Academics, researchers and experts overwhelmingly agree that there’s a lack of evidence linking flock to crime reduction rates.”
The item was discussed by the Committee in March. In written comments for that meeting, residents urged officials to reconsider the program.
Other residents have questioned whether safeguards touted by the Pasadena Police Department are sufficient.
Police officials, however, have defended the technology as an important investigative tool. During earlier Committee discussions, Pasadena police representatives said federal data-sharing access for California agencies has been disabled under updated state guidelines and noted the system has helped solve crimes, including a homicide investigation earlier this year that led to an arrest within 12 hours.
The debate has intensified amid broader local discussions over immigration enforcement and surveillance technology. Several residents speaking at City Council meetings in recent months called for a moratorium or outright cancellation of the City’s Flock contracts, arguing the cameras disproportionately affect immigrant communities and communities of color.
Daniela Navin, a District 3 resident, wrote in public comments that she was concerned about “the high concentration of Flock cameras in Districts 3 and 5, neighborhoods that have historically been underserved, overpoliced, and heavily targeted by ICE.”
Committee members previously continued the matter to allow for additional discussion and public comment after drawing dozens of speakers and written submissions. Wednesday’s meeting is expected to include further discussion of the City’s policies governing the cameras, data retention and information-sharing practices.
City of Pasadena Notice of Regular Meeting of the Public Safety Committee May 20, 2026 Public Meeting: 5 p.m. Pasadena City Hall, Council Chamber 100 N. Garfield Ave.
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