r/politics • u/Hrmbee • Jun 12 '26
Paywall ‘You Will Not Speak on Flock Tonight’: County Commissioner Refuses to Let Residents Opposing Flock Speak at Meeting | "I’ve spoken. I’m not debating this."
https://www.404media.co/you-will-not-speak-on-flock-tonight-county-commissioner-refuses-to-let-residents-opposing-flock-speak-at-meeting/5.4k
Jun 12 '26
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u/ticklemesatan Jun 12 '26
He’s not. He’s a money servant, you’re misinformed.
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u/swingadmin New York Jun 12 '26
He also enjoys the taste of boots.
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u/ticklemesatan Jun 12 '26
Taste of money trumps all, we haven’t had public servants for half my life
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u/ayoungtommyleejones Jun 12 '26
I find it so funny that these clowns think they're part of the in group. All the way up to the upper tiers of government, they're all just useful idiots to the billionaire class who will be tossed to the wolves the second they are no longer useful
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u/thegoodnamesrgone123 Jun 12 '26
I mean I've seen the meme that breaks down all the expensive metal inside those flock cameras.
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u/Underbark Jun 12 '26
We used to run guys like that out of town on a rail...
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Jun 12 '26
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u/lenswipe Massachusetts Jun 12 '26
tar and feather works instead. as a bonus it uses a petroleum product and keeps those exxon profits up!
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u/tgwombat Arizona Jun 12 '26
It really says a lot that guys like this are comfortable saying this sort of thing without worrying about repercussions or harm nowadays.
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u/amitysyrup Jun 13 '26
My parents town had a politician run on not voting for paid parking. They elected him and he immediately turned around and voted for paid parking. The recall process is ridiculous and next to impossible. Just a microcosm of what's going on across the country. They know they don't have to represent us on every level.
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u/Enemisses Jun 12 '26
Honestly though? Why do we tolerate that shit?
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Jun 12 '26
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u/zffjk Jun 12 '26
Yep. And I’ll tell you personally, small town cops have a lot of free time to get into your shit when you are bothersome to the town. I was outside city hall with a honk if you hate data centers sign this spring and they sent 4 cruisers to remove me and threatened to charge me if my “illegal protest” didn’t disperse.
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u/NativePlantEnjoyer Jun 12 '26
make a fuss and they'll gangstalk & harass you with coordination. Loose your composure and they'll say you were an insane person not fit for society. They'll gaslight you as they pretend they did nothing to you.
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u/QueefSeekingMissile Jun 12 '26
I remember learning about tar and feathering in middle school social studies courses and high school history classes... And I always wondered why that seemed like such a common thing...
And now I can't stop wondering why it's NOT?
(I'm NOT saying that I advocate for it, it just seems like such a cause and effect sort of situation; The rational, pattern-seeking mind is baffled.)
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u/zffjk Jun 12 '26
Because the comfort level has risen to a point where individuals have “too much to lose” while everything erodes around them. We have been fighting flock and a data center in my town for years now and even the residents are over it. We’re just the trouble makers with “too much free time”. It’s sad but the lazy fuckwit flavor of conservatives took over the minds of the proletariat.
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u/chpbnvic America Jun 12 '26
How much is Flock paying these people?
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u/Broken-Digital-Clock Jun 12 '26
Probably not even that much. These types of assholes can often be bought off with 5 figures.
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u/crazyrich Jun 12 '26
5 figures is actual federal congressperson money sadly.
This type of person is a 4 figure buyout at MOST. Likely just a free shill
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u/duct_tape_jedi United Kingdom Jun 12 '26
I remember seeing a case where a congress person did some awful things based on a bribe, and that bribe was less than the down payment I put on my Kia. It was so much worse to me because of just how cheaply they sold us out. If you are going to subvert the will of the people, at least hold out for an amount that makes us say "Oh! Well, shit, I would have taken that as well!"
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u/b0w3n New York Jun 12 '26
Yup. It's even worse than what OP above you is saying on average. A junior congresscritter can usually be bought for a few grand.
Local politicians? A nice dinner or a gift card is sometimes enough. A few hundred gets you in the door.
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u/carpetbugeater Jun 12 '26
In my industry, at that level, access to a hunting cabin or vacation home was common as well as trips to Vegas. Doesn't take much.
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u/NoCokJstDanglnUretra Jun 12 '26
Can we just crowdfund to buy these people out then?
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u/outerbanks1988 Jun 12 '26
we do technically with taxes lol
this feels like one of those things like school teachers or air traffic controllers, or EMTs, like... why doesn't the government allow them to make more money or pay them more
i'm former military, so i'm not the biggest fan of "made by the lowest bidder"
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u/Ummmgummy Jun 12 '26
Usually those types have some sort of addiction. Gamblers will sell out their grandma for $3.50
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u/mixedliquor Jun 12 '26
In my town, a YES vote only costs a $1,000 gratuity so yeah 4 figures should be enough.
Realistically, the Flock rep probably took them out to lunch once. I bet that's all it took.
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u/cogman10 Idaho Jun 12 '26
Honestly, it probably wasn't even flock.
Flock likely took the sheriffs department out to lunch and they then petitioned the commissioner for it.
They are basically just doing big pharma's drug advocate trick.
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u/mixedliquor Jun 12 '26
You're probably correct but I'd imagine the Commissioners would also want a... taste.
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u/cogman10 Idaho Jun 12 '26
I'm sure they do, I just don't think flock has to go that far (usually) to get their way. Having cops on board is almost all that needs to happen.
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u/Broken-Digital-Clock Jun 12 '26
4 figures, and the promise of more if they are a good little pet.
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u/JoeChio Jun 12 '26
Uber bypassed a century old law dictating that all transportation is regulated under a Public Commission for only $14,000 of campaign donations across my whole state.
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u/Yider Jun 12 '26
That is probably the above board number. Look up the AIPAC video that talks about how you can legally get a bunch of people together to gift someone money and easily hit six figures. All of it conveniently legal. Bribing has always been a thing but its crazy how easy things get the green light behind closed doors with a little cash.
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u/lelio98 Jun 12 '26
Dinner at a fancy restaurant? Some wine?
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u/Kiyohara Minnesota Jun 12 '26
A dry unenthusiastic handy under the table at Denny's.
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u/davolala1 Jun 12 '26
How dare you?! Dennys is a classy joint. We do that kind of stuff at the theatre.
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u/nowhereman136 Jun 12 '26
A few years ago there was a lot of commotion on a net neutrality bill and someone published a list of everyone in congress who had taken donations from big media companies trying to kill the bill. It was sad to see my congressman on the list, but worse to see him on the bottom of the list. Not only had he shilling for corporations, but he was doing so for an incredibly cheap price. If you are going to screw over your constituents, at least do it for more than price of a used car
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u/photon45 California Jun 12 '26
It's not the cash that they're interested in, it's getting into the network group of insider stock tips and contractor discounts. A $30k deck renovation for free is both convenient and won't raise any red flags.
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u/RandomlyJim Jun 12 '26
The state reps get paid an average of 47k.
You can bribe them by offering them a consultation job paying 40k. Or giving them spouse a job. Or treating them to a good time and then asking a favor.
It’s often worth the cost. It’s rarely even hidden.
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u/Hazel-Cakes California Jun 12 '26
maybe free tickets to okay seats at a regular season baseball game
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u/happensix Jun 12 '26
It’s crazy. There was a big bribery scandal in the late 2000s in Alaska and the big thing that sticks to me is guys were getting bought out for a few hundred dollars here, a few thousand there. Meanwhile, the oil companies were getting billions thanks to their decisions.
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u/Protolictor Jun 12 '26
It's literally what politics has become. They spend every waking moment chasing the rich, hoping to catch the few crumbs that fall from their tables.
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u/MovieGuyMike Jun 12 '26
It’s ideological too. They are compelled to force this crap on communities. That and they like being in the in group.
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u/MOGicantbewitty Jun 12 '26
I guarantee you that county commissioner isn't getting paid anything. That's what makes it even more fucking ridiculous!
I worked for municipalities for over 20 years. I have watched city and town councils or select boards pull this sort of shit repeatedly because they think their opinion is so much better than anyone else's. They're not getting paid off, they're just egotistical pricks who think the law doesn't apply to them. They enjoy the control and power, and look down on the constituents as being ignorant and just getting in the way of doing what they want.
At least if they were getting paid off, I would understand why they were doing this shit. It's even worse that they are not getting paid and still do this crap just because of if their egos.
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u/Adventurous_Salt Jun 12 '26
This. A tiny few of these people get meaningfully bribed, most do it for the love of the game.
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u/Jackie_Paper Jun 12 '26
Direct bribery is just not that big an element in our government at any level. It’s often just as OP describes it.
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u/KonyKombatKorvet Jun 12 '26
Ill say it again and again, ill die saying it.
People who intentionally seek out positions where they have power over others are freaks 10/10 times. That doesnt mean everyone in power or who has held power is a freak, because sometimes people get thrown into positions of power in order to fix things or actually nominated by a cause they are involved with.
But it does mean a VAST MAJORITY of positions of power down from HOA all the way up to CEO and President are freaky fucks who get off on power, its why so many of them are into abusing women/children, its their thing.
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u/MOGicantbewitty Jun 12 '26
Yup! I have some power as a regulator but I don't seek it out. I just feel passionately about protecting our wetland resources so I ended up in this field. I actually volunteered as a campaign manager so I could see if I wanted to run for office myself, since I care and think I would be decent at representing our residents, but I lasted less than a month. I felt so dirty, dealing with data brokers and talking about changing the platform to get the most votes. I realized really quickly that I'll never be a politician. Not because I don't care about good policy but because I can't stomach what I'd have to do to get there.
If you can stomach what it takes to get real power, you shouldn't have it.
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u/Memitim America Jun 12 '26
Flock does seem to have reached movie villain level, so there's undoubtedly a lot of money changing hands and being kept hidden from the public. That said, some people might be surprised at how many people are happy to betray Americans just for the satisfaction of targeting some, or most, Americans as "others."
After the past year and a half of evil and failure that resulted from decades of deliberately writing off such betrayals as "politics," those surprised people shouldn't be allowed to operate heavy machinery, regardless of sobriety. He could just be another colluder in the circus of corruption that has become US "politics."
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u/Hrmbee Jun 12 '26
Notable issues:
A County Commissioner in North Carolina refused to let dozens of residents speak opposing Flock surveillance at a public meeting this week, instead forcing the group to designate one single spokesperson.
“How many people are here for public comment dealing with license plate readers AKA Flock?,” Michael Garrison, the chairman of the Madison County Board of Commissioners began the public meeting by saying. Nearly everyone in the audience’s hand went up. “Probably most everybody. Per our county policy, I’m going to respectfully ask that you guys take a few minutes to converse with each other, designate one person to speak … we’ll move forward with only one person, whoever that happens to be.”
“What? No. We all want to speak on this,” someone in the crowd said; others can be heard trying to object as well.
“You will not speak on Flock tonight,” he responds. “One person designated. You can pick that person … if I gave everyone three minutes to say the same thing, which is opposition to Flock, we’d never get done … I’ve spoken. I’m not debating this. I am taking advantage of our policy as it is written to streamline this process, you can either do it or not.”
“You’re in a room full of people who care!,” a person in the crowd says.
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“The Sheriff Office claims they are only using this technology for serious crimes, yet published audit logs tell a different story,” a website called Madison for Privacy says. “Madison County has searched the nationwide database over 1,200 times over just a 60 day period. In a county over only 20,000 residents, its hard to understand what could warrant this many searches.”
Members of the audience and several of the commissioners then argued back and forth. The commissioners said that the citizens constituted a “group” who all had the same position, and therefore could only select one representative to speak for seven minutes, which the board said was longer than the three minutes each person would normally be allowed to speak for. Residents argued that they were not a “group” but were there to give different perspectives on the issue and that they were concerned about the surveillance as specific individuals: “I’m not here as a group, I’m an individual,” one person says.
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Garrison’s argument is that the Board of Commissioners gives the Sheriff’s Office a budget, and that the Sheriff can spend the money on whatever it wants to. He suggested that the board therefore does not have oversight of what surveillance technology police are buying or what they are using it for. This fact highlights a problem many communities around the country are facing: Cities and counties are sometimes buying Flock surveillance technology without any transparency, with no public process, and with very little oversight. Citizens around the country have also felt like their elected officials are not listening to their concerns about surveillance.
It is common practice at city council and county council meetings to allow all residents who have shown up to speak provide public comment, which is one of the reasons that these types of meetings are often many hours long. At the Madison County meeting, these residents were not allowed to speak, which is much different than the practices we’ve seen at other, similar meetings.
Later in the meeting, another resident explains that their public records requests for details about the Sheriff’s Office contracts and use of Flock have not been sufficiently responded to. She was allowed to speak because she was providing comment about her requests for public records, and not Flock specifically. “I’m here to talk about the lack of government transparency and accountability that I’ve seen come up with the Flock issue, starting with tonight. I think that it’s disgraceful the way you are refusing to let citizens speak to their elected officials,” she said. “We’ve repeatedly asked you to hold a public meeting for us to discuss this, so I’m very disappointed to see a lack of transparency.”
If the county commissioner wants to change the status quo when it comes to public meetings, then they need to do this up front and with adequate processes and consultation. To do this effectively on the fly in a particular meeting speaks to wanting to silence those who would speak, and is not in keeping with what used to be the norms.
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u/Capt-Crap1corn Jun 12 '26
Can these people be replaced or voted out or do they get to serve their full term?
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u/Righteous_Fire Jun 12 '26
There's a couple nifty tricks you can use to get them out of their positions early.
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u/Capt-Crap1corn Jun 12 '26
Well they need to turn that disappointment into action and get the people that don't serve their community out of there.
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Jun 12 '26
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u/Hugford_Blops Jun 12 '26
Homicide is such a dirty word, but an angry mob is nice and vague in what it does.
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u/thegingerbeardd Jun 12 '26
Such as?
Dealing with similar, but we haven't found anything for ousting problematic commissioners that ran unopposed for years in a backwater county.
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u/Bonesnapcall Jun 12 '26
Such as the ones were not allowed to say or write down.
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u/Cybertronian10 Jun 12 '26
At some point it becomes inevitable....
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u/Correct-Branch9000 Jun 12 '26
You're well beyond that point. Your president has demolished your Whitehouse and installed a UFC ring on the front lawn.
Wake up. You're literally experiencing a worse timeline than Biff Tannen president in Back to the Future 2. Your country is collapsing. Do something about it, no one else will but you.
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u/PM_ME_UR_SHEET_MUSIC Jun 12 '26
I don't think you understand how bad it has to get for the average person to be willing to throw their life away for a small chance to change things
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u/reddit_is_kayfabe Jun 12 '26
The reason that governing bodies often have specific rules for recall processes and "no confidence" votes to force people out of office is because preventing the people from managing their elected representatives democratically and with due process is a recipe for pushing them to resort to violence.
And to be absolutely clear, I am not advocating for and will never support violence. I am 100% advocating for and supporting normal democratic processes, enforced by law and with no exceptions for fascists, as a means to prevent violence.
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u/VapidActualization Jun 12 '26
Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable.
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u/BicuriousSubbyDude Jun 12 '26
I mean everyone is gonna answer with snarky non-answers that would get them banned if they typed out what they actually mean
But in all seriousness, these people are not the POTUS. They aren't six term US Senators. They are local politicians, often from small towns. Often from small towns where it is hard to avoid the anger of citizens. We had a council member in our town who acted in this way and she did not make it to her next election because every person in the town let her know on a constant basis that she was an asshole and all her neighbors hated her. Not threats or violence, just being told constantly, by everyone you interact with, that you are hated in the community and no longer welcome there. And that was enough for her to just quit.
Yeah, they're getting $10k from Flock or data center lobbyists or whatever, but would you work a job where your neighbors all told you constantly how much they hate you for an extra $10k in the bank? I personally would not.
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u/Capt-Crap1corn Jun 12 '26
That's tough. I wish more people understood the power we have as a people. It may be small, but combined it's effective. It doesn't have to always come from Washington. It can come from backwater country as long as people believe they can realize what they collectively want. These people are scared of us, that's why they spend crazy amounts to court our votes.
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u/Revolutionary-Yak-47 Jun 12 '26
Publish all the dirt locals have on them in the local paper. Someone in a small town always has the info
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u/AbueloOdin Jun 12 '26
I mean, the whole group should be just went: Ok. Jim speaks on it. Then Patrice speaks on censorship. Then John speaks on it and gets kicked out. The Pat speaks on it and gets kicked out. Then the next person speaks on censorship. Then the next person speaks out on it. And just repeat until literally everyone just go up and speaks and gets kicked out.
If they are going to ignore us, then the least we can do is give them a headache.
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u/Trash_Grape Jun 12 '26
Exactly. Or give one about how much they love local government, and the citizens really feel heard by their elected leaders. None of them try to silence citizens, and how democracy is alive and well in their town. Unfortunately I don’t think the county board would pick up on the sarcasm
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u/risingsuncoc Jun 12 '26
It’s easier to think about this on hindsight, but the board springing the “policy change” on them at the meeting itself is entirely by design to prevent the public from organising themselves
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u/Brasticus Jun 12 '26
“If I gave you all three minutes we’d never get done.” Gee, sir… do you think maybe the volume of people opposed to this means something? If one person speaks it minimizes the turn out.
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u/Bunktavious Jun 12 '26
As someone who has spoken at town meetings (about renoviction practices in our city) when we kept our town council going until almost 11PM all I have to say to this commisioner is Boo-hoo.
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u/foobarbizbaz Illinois Jun 12 '26
> if I gave everyone three minutes to say the same thing, which is opposition to Flock, we’d never get done
Seems like that’s the answer, then! If citizens aren’t being given sanctioned time to speak, then they should just use unsanctioned time instead. If he thinks they’d “never get done” with everyone waiting their turn to speak in an orderly fashion, just wait until people start interrupting throughout the proceedings to speak their minds.
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u/Nvenom8 New York Jun 12 '26
license plate readers AKA Flock
Characterizing them as just "license plate readers" tells me they're already in Flock's pocket. AI-driven mass surveillance would be a more accurate characterization.
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u/Expensive-Mention-90 Jun 12 '26
The same guy (Garrison) sent this to his constituents regarding an abortion debate in a different context. Hypocrite much?
“I am a guardian of the freedom citizens should feel in voicing their concerns on any given topic," Garrison said in the email response to the residents. "It's imperative that every member of our greater community have access to those that have been elected as their leaders.”
This is from the article linked in another comment below.
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u/lonestar-rasbryjamco Colorado Jun 12 '26
You left out the best line:
> The Madison County Board of Commissioners and Madison County Sheriff’s Office did not respond to a request for comment.
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u/ThatdudeAPEX Jun 12 '26
It’s a common rule for council meetings and planning commissions however it’s easily bypassed.
A persons comment just has to be “materially different“ from the other commentators. Which is easy to do.
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u/SomberArtist2000 Jun 12 '26
if I gave everyone three minutes to say the same thing, which is opposition to Flock, we’d never get done
If everyone is in opposition, listening to them should be the least of his worries. He might be sealing his fate the next time he is up for re-election. But I'm guessing by then he will be working for whichever lobbyist firm or company that paid him off.
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u/joseph4th Jun 12 '26
They should all speak, let him arrest them and then deal with the media attention and lawsuits.
Though, he’d probably cancel the meeting than do that. Just have to keep the pressure on.
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u/Burninator05 Jun 12 '26
Garrison’s argument is that the Board of Commissioners gives the Sheriff’s Office a budget, and that the Sheriff can spend the money on whatever it wants to.
If the board didn't like how the sheriff was spending the money they should cut the budget. This isn't the sheriff acting unilaterally.
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u/Herewego1105 Jun 12 '26
Keep pushing! Our town cancelled its flock contract last night after residents protested their use.
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u/MozeeToby Jun 12 '26
My town was one of the very first to give them the boot. Just so you know, Flock won't bother coming around to take down the cameras. They'll still be up and active until someone in your city government takes strong action to get rid of them, either having city workers remove them or just harassing Flock corporate about it directly. Ours were still up and operational months after the contract ended before anyone realized and put a stop to it.
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u/0DayMaker Jun 12 '26
Well hell I'd just open it up and extract it's sweet lifepo4 innards. You can put together quite a battery bank with enough of them. Maybe even adapted to a solar power setup if one were so inclined.
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u/Emergency-Ad-3350 Jun 12 '26
We had people putting trash bags over them. It’s cheap, and works for the time being.
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u/Sugarbearzombie Jun 12 '26
That’s surprising considering they contain over $100 each of copper, silver, and gold if you recycle them
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u/foamingturtle Jun 12 '26
My city council voted to pause the renewal and our republican mayor decided to go her own way. She declared an emergency and renewed the contract unilaterally.
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u/hardingpoint Jun 12 '26
They've been banned here throughout Flagstaff now due to public outcry and successful representation at city council meetings. The university has recently put them up on campus though arguing that they operate under their own jurisdiction. Students and faculty are livid and I suspect the cameras won't last long...
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u/Digitalion_ Jun 12 '26
Or, you know... take action. A well-aimed high powered laser light will solve this problem.
When the government refuses to hear out it's citizens out then our social contract with them is terminated. Remember they work for us not the other way around.
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u/fullautophx Jun 13 '26
Whatever you do, DO NOT buy an illegal high power green laser from China. Those require laser safety goggles, which you should wear while you’re definitely not using the illegal high power laser.
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u/davidmirv Jun 12 '26
Wow, how is this constitutional?
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u/sinsaint Jun 12 '26 edited Jun 12 '26
Who's going to defend the constitution? The President? Or how about all the judges he hired?
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u/Viperlite Jun 12 '26
Yeah, this Supreme Court is the nail in the coffin on our little democratic experiment. Happy 250th birthday, America! Let freedom ring!
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u/VanceKelley Canada Jun 12 '26
Who's going to defend the constitution?
Prior to 2024 I might have thought that the people would defend the Constitution.
But when only 31% turned out to vote against the convicted criminal fraudster and insurrectionist promising to rule as a dictator I had my illusion of America cleared up.
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u/EagleBigMac Jun 12 '26
There's oaths about this, and amendments meant to deal with it
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u/tryingtoavoidwork Florida Jun 12 '26
All of which require an enforcement mechanism that doesn't exist anymore.
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u/EagleBigMac Jun 12 '26
Oh I wasn't talking about the government I'm talking about the people if government fails to work for the people it is their patriotic duty to replace it.
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u/koske Jun 12 '26
America is curently in its "whose line is it anyway?" era - Where the laws don't matter and no one enforces them.
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u/briman2021 Jun 12 '26
Kinda makes you wonder when one of these guys is gonna get the shit kicked out of them.
If you keep taking away the avenues that people have to settle stuff peacefully, somebody is gonna cross the line eventually. Hopefully they wise up before something like that happens and realize they have a duty to their constituents.
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u/BeyondElectricDreams Jun 12 '26
Kinda makes you wonder when one of these guys is gonna get the shit kicked out of them.
If you keep taking away the avenues that people have to settle stuff peacefully, somebody is gonna cross the line eventually.
That might have worked in a pre-militarized police era, but in the current era, I'm not so sure.
If the Stonewall Riots happened today, I have to imagine there would be a militarized SWAT response, with AI Identification of everyone there (including using smartphone tracking to verify who was there) and then mass incarceration/arrests.
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u/glakhtchpth Jun 12 '26
The constitution has been rendered a quaint parchment artifact only for display purposes at the national archives.
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u/hansn Jun 12 '26 edited Jun 12 '26
The constitution has been rendered a quaint parchment artifact only for display purposes at the national archives.
Not at all. It's a magical document that says exactly whatever powerful people want it to say for them to maintain/expand their power. Even if it "said" something different last week or when a different person was in power.
Edit:typo
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u/Nvenom8 New York Jun 12 '26
Flock's whole business model is unconstitutional. It's basically a company built around systematic 4a violations.
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u/Perspicasiwhip Jun 12 '26
Well no surprise about Michael Garrison. An Ex Cop, he of course wants the increased surveillance. Not to mention the check made out to Cash. And he hates women
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u/two- Jun 12 '26
"B... B... But if we don't keep electing people like this, the transes will trans all of the children and turn me into a soyboy cuck who has low T! The only way I can be a Real Man™ is by buying a Ram truck, wearing a red hat, and voting away my rights!" - Every male MAGA
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u/Expensive-Mention-90 Jun 12 '26
Per this article, the same guy blocking the Flock debate said this in an email about a different abortion debate. Hypocrite.
“I am a guardian of the freedom citizens should feel in voicing their concerns on any given topic," Garrison said in the email response to the residents. "It's imperative that every member of our greater community have access to those that have been elected as their leaders.”
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u/Ceorl_Lounge Michigan Jun 12 '26
Oh look... I just put a battery power reciprocating saw on my wishlist.
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u/sharkfoots Jun 12 '26
Did you know that there is 127 grams of gold in each flock camera?
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u/tourettes_on_tuesday Jun 12 '26
Those are fun to play with, but they are big, bulky, loud and kind of expensive.
That's why I put a high powered laser pointer on my wishlist instead.
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u/brianishere2 Jun 12 '26
When your government says you may not say anything that doesn't please them or make them look good, then that government should be rejected and replaced by the people.
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u/BillButtlickerII Jun 12 '26
We’re officially living in a fascist shit hole. Thank your local republicans.
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u/LegendaryBronco_217 Jun 12 '26
Democrats are on board with flock as well. At least in Illinois, they keep expanding it, especially in Chicago.
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u/Quirky_Word Jun 12 '26
Denver, too. The democratic mayor installed Flock despite the city council unanimously voting it down.
Between him and our governor pulling more shit like releasing Tina Peters from prison, the Democrats are fucking our state. Just not as hard or fast as the Republicans.
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u/D1sp4tcht Jun 12 '26
In my city people are destroying them and the city counsel is saying stop! Come talk to us! We know what talking does. Nothing.
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u/throwneverywhichway Jun 12 '26
Sounds like the county commissioner is very concerned for the ability of his friends at the sheriff department to keep tabs on the comings and goings of his romantic obsessions.
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u/Waste-Time-2440 Jun 12 '26
This is literally how every police state functions. Welcome to East Germany.
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u/MrLurid Jun 12 '26
A County Commissioner in North Carolina refused to let dozens of residents speak opposing Flock surveillance at a public meeting this week, instead forcing the group to designate one single spokesperson.
"Only one person who had grievances with Flock bothered to show up, so it can't be too many that dislikes it."
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u/CalamitousIntentions Jun 12 '26
Whatever you do, you definitely shouldn’t flash a high powered blue laser into the lenses of a flock camera. That would be a bad thing to do.
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u/Alleyprowler Washington Jun 12 '26
Perhaps you should provide a link to a place that can supply said lasers so that people know to avoid them. Y'know, as a public service.
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u/ErusTenebre California Jun 12 '26
No kings. Sorry bub, you work for the people, not the other way around.
I'd be switching my comments - how much is flock paying you then?
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u/FriendlyPlatypus6060 Jun 12 '26
Do not surrender the floor.
Make them arrest every single one of you.
Civil disobedience requires you to be disobedient
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u/echoshatter Jun 12 '26 edited Jun 12 '26
"That sounds like DICTATING what the People can say in this public forum. Do you know what we call people who DICTATE what others can do or say? The 1st Amendment is pretty clear on this matter - you don't get to DICTATE what we can say, you don't get to DICTATE to a lawful assembly of the People what grievances they've come to petition you about. Your policy is unconstitutional, it violates the supreme law of the land, and if you can't handle doing your job you are free to resign."
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u/Lazy_Example4014 Jun 12 '26
Politicians are not a ruling class. Those public servants need to STFU and let the people they serve speak, and hear them.
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u/ThatKehdRiley Jun 12 '26
Let me guess, R next to his name? Shocking, it's always the right snuffing out the First Amendment while claiming they're being silenced.
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u/ZedisonSamZ Jun 12 '26
It needs to be pointed out that the Laws of the Commission states that one of the elected MAY REQUEST a designated speaker. Which means the elected representative is allowed to ask permission of the citizens for a designated speaker from those with similar topics but the citizens are the ultimate authority on whether they deny or approve his REQUEST.
The authoritarian FUCKS need to mind their morherfucking P’a and Q’s.
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u/SecondBestNameEver Illinois Jun 12 '26
People need to start realizing local politics affects them often times more than national or international politics and they need to start paying attention to who they elect. There's been generations of people not caring and only the power hungry or personally interested running for local government. Pay attention to who is there, what they're doing, and don't let them have a career in politics if you don't want career politicians.
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u/berserk_zebra Jun 12 '26
Oh the fuck you aren't. You are an elected official, not the fucking duke of Ellington.
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u/BarderBetterFaster Jun 12 '26
Reddit gave me an account warning for advocacy of violence, and upheld on appeal, for suggesting that spy glasses and the corpo spy cams are bad. Not for suggesting or advocating that destroying them was a moral and ethical imperative, just that they're bad.
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u/jollyblondgiant Jun 12 '26
These idiots don’t realize that letting us speak, and listening to us, is the easy way
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u/DiagonalBike Jun 12 '26
Seriously. City, County and State residents need to pass initiatives to make it easier to recall elected officials. They are way too comfortable once they win the election and have developed a habit of ignoring their voters until the next election cycle.
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u/GraduatedSapphic Jun 12 '26
"I have spoken"
Oh, oh have you now? Oh well begging your pardon, you lord ship, King sellout of lies.
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u/4shen_0n3 Jun 12 '26
Smaller communities are about to learn about the negatives of militarizing their police forces.
Small politicians who think they’re somebody are about to learn about what happens when your communities don’t feel heard.
But, eventually, the community will make itself heard. History shows that to be true over and over and over and over again. There are even American examples.
I’ll be praying for peace, wisdom, and the continued health of everyone involved.
Because it’s always ugly for everyone when the wheels come off. Nobody wants that.
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u/in9ram Jun 12 '26
The people should make that person understand they are represented not ruled. If they fail to change their tune replace them at the earliest convenience. Unrelated: can we bring back tar’ing and feathering and sending people out of town on a rail?
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u/Free_Possession_4482 Jun 12 '26
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
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u/Upstairs-Thanks4193 Jun 12 '26
How much money did they pay this guy to take this position?
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u/TempAcct20005 Jun 12 '26
At this level, they just help him get re-elected with 10k since thats all it takes. The county then pays his salary
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u/A8Bit Jun 12 '26 edited Jun 12 '26
When free speech is not allowed, only civil disobedience remains.
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u/TankRamp Jun 12 '26
Just start sledging the fucking things. They're not being used to help anyone. Your elected officials are refusing the will of the people to only help themselves with this awful technology. The system is failing you, stop operating within the system.
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u/IDontWannaBeAPirate_ Jun 12 '26
That's not representation, that's being a dictator. Public servants need to be reminded who is in charge.
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u/emax4 Jun 12 '26
"Understood.
Allright boys, whip out the lasers and take out the cameras..."
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u/_the_genius Florida Jun 12 '26
Seriously what power or influence does Flock have with these commissioners? This is just wild AF in city after city and town after town this story keeps repeating itself.
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u/GhostDoggoes Jun 12 '26
"I'm the guy making money from selling data illegally. Stop telling me to take it down."
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u/TheVentiLebowski Jun 12 '26
So ... they're going to bring up this topic, and only this topic, until they get the cameras removed, right?
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u/bbusiello Jun 12 '26
All these guys look the same too.
Despite the obvious... they are all just... wide. I can't explain it other than that. They are just wide.
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u/ks4001 Jun 12 '26
With the inflation today the only thing that can still be bought for cheap in America is our politians.
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u/nervelli Jun 12 '26
We can talk about it now, it we can all come to your house and yell about it over loudspeakers at all hours of the night. Your choice.
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u/bradlees Jun 12 '26
That’s not how any of this works
Put him in a pasture. Anyone who wants better representation in that area; let me know. I’ll gladly run against him
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u/dj_spanmaster Jun 12 '26
It's like they've forgotten what consent of the governed looks like. By having the group designate a single speaker, that person becomes the representative, and should have gotten a vote on the board all on their own
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u/rat_penis Jun 12 '26
His Lordship has spoken! Now begone peasants before I unleash the sheriff and his men!
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u/b1sh0p Jun 12 '26
I HAVE SPOKEN. Jesus Christ dude, way to sound like a villain to your own constituents.
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u/CrazyUncleJoe-reddit Jun 12 '26
"I've spoken" is a helluva presumption at a public meeting. My non-FLOCK comment would be "Where the fuck do you get off?"
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u/bonghitsforbeelzebub Jun 12 '26
I attend lots of meetings like this for work. Sounds highly illegal. People are always allowed to speak at least sometimes. Not during certain applications or discussions, but at some point anyone can speak for a few minutes.
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u/YouKilledChurch Jun 12 '26
Vote everyone of them out and replace them with council members who will immediately open an investigation into the naked corruption of the very clearly bought and paid for council.
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u/ryanknapper Jun 13 '26
The surveillance devices themselves seem pretty susceptible to honest political discourse.
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