Oakland City Council Deadlocks 2-2 on Flock Camera Expansion, Halting Police Surveillance Plan

Oakland, California – The Oakland City Council's Public Safety Committee recently deadlocked in a 2-2 vote, effectively preventing the immediate expansion of the city's Flock Safety surveillance camera network. The decision came after a contentious public hearing, leaving the Oakland Police Department's (OPD) proposal for a two-year contract extension and the installation of up to 40 additional automated license plate reader (ALPR) cameras in limbo.From here, I'll continue to provide more structured output.The proposed $2.25 million contract sought to expand the current network of approximately 290 Flock cameras, which capture license plates and vehicle backs, and integrate 40 new pan-tilt-zoom cameras. Additionally, the plan included consolidating data from these cameras, along with voluntarily provided private security camera feeds, into a cloud database for 30 days.Supporters, including business owners and some residents, argued the cameras are a vital tool in combating crime. Oakland Police Lt. Gabriel Urquiza highlighted the cameras' impact, stating, "How we are measuring success is basically a change in behavior." He pointed to a reduction in carjackings and an 11% increase in violent-crime clearance rates since the cameras were first installed in 2024.Conversely, privacy advocates and civil liberties groups voiced strong opposition, citing concerns over mass surveillance and potential data sharing with federal agencies. Tracy Rosenberg, advocacy director for Oakland Privacy, expressed skepticism about data protection, noting, "The track record is looking worse and worse." The Oakland Privacy Advisory Commission had previously voted 4-2 against the proposal, with two commissioners resigning over concerns about increasing surveillance.Councilmembers Ken Houston and Charlene Wang voted in favor of the expansion, while Carroll Fife and Rowena Brown opposed it. Councilmember Houston acknowledged the temporary nature of the solution but stated, "Let's try it out for 24 months as a Band-Aid, and if the bleeding stops, we can remove it." The deadlocked motion means the proposal will likely be reintroduced to the full City Council next month, potentially with amendments, for further debate.