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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021-01-28 HRC ecomments reportHuman Relations Commission Meeting Time: 01-28-21 18:00 eComments Report Meetings Meeting Time Agenda Items Comments Support Oppose Neutral Human Relations Commission 01-28-21 18:00 16 17 3 11 0 Sentiments for All Meetings The following graphs display sentiments for comments that have location data. Only locations of users who have commented will be shown. Overall Sentiment Human Relations Commission 01-28-21 18:00 Agenda Name Comments Support Oppose Neutral 2. QUARTERLY UPDATE FROM POLICE DEPARTMENT • DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING LICENSE PLATE READER PROGRAM 12 0 11 0 5. DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING THE EXPANSION OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR PUBLIC INPUT AT COUNCIL MEETINGS 5 3 0 0 Sentiments for All Agenda Items The following graphs display sentiments for comments that have location data. Only locations of users who have commented will be shown. Overall Sentiment Agenda Item: eComments for 2. QUARTERLY UPDATE FROM POLICE DEPARTMENT • DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING LICENSE PLATE READER PROGRAM Overall Sentiment Nick Paul Location: 91911, Chula Vista Submitted At: 6:42pm 01-28-21 I would like to ask for support from the Human Relations commission in getting answers about the ALPR Surveillance program and its use in our neighborhoods. On Dec 17, 2020 community members submitted Public Records Act requests (R000267-121720 & R000280-122120) in an attempt to learn more about the program and we've been met with dismissive responses from CVPD staff promising "updates" at a later time without any specific timeline about when we might expect answers to our questions. We've been waiting for answers over a month and a half now with little to no response from city staff. Community members want to work with the City to make sure that surveillance technologies are used responsibly and in ways that do not put vulnerable communities in jeopardy - the delay puts into question CVPD's good will in addressing these issues. For one, it makes one wonder if the delay is an attempt to hide information. Is the delay an attempt to stifle community momentum around this issue? Releasing all information about the Vigilant Solutions contract and the ALPR surveillance system to the public, will allow community organizers, elected officials, and CV residents the opportunity to address this issue and formulate a plan to make sure that this does not happen again. We hope we can count on the support of the Human Relations Commission in requesting that our PRA's be answered in a timely fashion, so that the community can start getting to work in formulating solutions! Pedro Rios Location: 91911, Chula Vista Submitted At: 6:13pm 01-28-21 On behalf of the American Friends Service Committee, a Quaker-based human rights organization in San Diego County, we are alarmed that the City of Chula Vista uses ALPR surveillance technology. Though the data is no longer shared with ICE or CBP (including Border Patrol), information is still shared with over 800 law enforcement and private associations. This is concerning. Those of us who live in Chula Vista, who do business in the city, and those simply traveling through the city are at risk of having data captured by a program with little accountability and safeguards. It is our hope that the Human Relations Commissions recommend to the the City Council to stop using the ALPR program, and to request that any analytical report be released to the public. We further recommend that the Commission urge City Council members to hold virtual public forums to address the use of ALPR technology, as well as other surveillance programs. Thank you, Pedro Rios (Chula Vista resident) Director US-Mexico Border Program American Friends Service Committee Nan Kar Location: Submitted At: 5:55pm 01-28-21 On behalf of all Chula Vista citizens STOP the SURVEILLANCE. It is disheartening that every day the ALPR surveillance dragnet continues, and CV citizens are at risk of getting caught up in the surveillance dragnet. Every day the CV citizens feel that their civil liberties are threatened. Harriet Baber Location: Submitted At: 5:41pm 01-28-21 I concur with the comments opposed to this program. Note this from the ACLU: https://www.aclu.org/issues/privacy-technology/location-tracking/you-are-being-tracked Lois Klepin Location: Submitted At: 5:31pm 01-28-21 Chula Vista’s use of ALPR technology can be used to track and monitor all of us and threaten our civil liberties. It is critical that the residents of Chula Vista have the opportunity to discuss the use of this technology and the Police Department’s role in sharing information with others, including ICE. The secrecy behind the initiation of this tracking system is disturbing. Chula Vistans should be part of a process to develop guidelines for the continued use of this technology, or determine whether it be used at all. Thank you. David Harris Location: 92105, San Diego Submitted At: 4:38pm 01-28-21 Chula Vista’s continued use of ALPRs and its contract with Vigilant Solutions is in violation of our police departments commitment to transparency and compromises our police departments trust with community members. It is a huge problem that CVPD was able to enter this contract without community notice or approval. In addition to violating the spirit of SB54 (CA Values Act), it creates a slippery slope whereby law enforcement agencies of other jurisdictions can abuse the information collected by the CVPD. I ask that City officials discontinue the contract/data collection program and that CVPD immediately stop using it and work on implementing new policies that assure all surveillance technologies be vetted by City Council with ample opportunity for community input into the decision-making. Tama BeckerVarano Location: 92122, San Diego Submitted At: 2:52pm 01-28-21 Chula Vista’s continued use of ALPRs and its contract with Vigilant Solutions is in violation of our police department's commitment to transparency and compromises our police department's trust with community members. It is a huge problem that CVPD was able to enter this contract without community notice or approval. In addition to violating the spirit of SB54 (CA Values Act), it creates a slippery slope whereby law enforcement agencies of other jurisdictions can abuse the information collected by the CVPD. I ask that City officials discontinue the contract/data collection program and that CVPD immediately stop using it and work on implementing new policies that assure all surveillance technologies be vetted by City Council with ample opportunity for community input into the decision-making. Jerilyn Brown Location: Submitted At: 2:51pm 01-28-21 As a long time member of this community, I especially treasure the harmoneous diversity. We are considered a Welcoming City and using the ALPR program is counter to that. Please, consider dispensing with this technology. Thank you! Margaret Baker Location: Submitted At: 2:41pm 01-28-21 Since the Dec 5 UT expose article on Chula Vista’s contract with Vigilant Solutions, South Bay People Power & dozens of local organizations have been asking the City for TRANSPARENCY. We strongly oppose the use of ALPR surveillance technology for a massive dragnet & unregulated data-sharing program that is antithetical to our values as a Welcoming City. To date we have not received a response to our joint letter to the Mayor dated Dec 18, nor the nearly 100 eComments submitted to public meetings in which we requested the City to: 1) Release to the public the CVPD report on the ALPR contract with adequate time for review & 2) Host a series of virtual “community listening sessions” open for the public to engage in dialogue with Police Chief Kennedy and Council members-one in each Council District. In addition, we have not received any documents about the contract in response to our PRA request dated Dec 17. Chula Vista should not have to rely on newspaper reporters to find out what our police are doing. Even the Chief says she didn’t know how our license plate data were being shared; and she still doesn’t. As long as our data are collected & shared with Vigilant Solutions there will be abuses. We need all the facts, & spaces for city officials & community members to discuss the surveillance program & understand how it harms our community. This issue is too important to put off until COVID restrictions on public forums are lifted. Please open up dialogue with the public now. Kathy Hardy Location: Submitted At: 1:38pm 01-28-21 The CVPD’s use of ALPR technology is invasive and the antithesis of our moniker of a “Welcoming City.” Knowing that the information gathered is being given to agencies like ICE and the Border Patrol as well as countless others, does little to engender trust in the community. All stakeholders in our community deserve to be allowed to share concerns about the use of such technology. Transparency is critical, especially when privacy rights are at stake! Brenda Aguirre Location: 91910, Chula Vista Submitted At: 11:19am 01-28-21 As we celebrated the life of Martin Luther King, Jr., this month, I was reminded how FBI director, J. Edgar Hoover, had him under surveillance because he thought he was a communist. Surveillance can be insidious and destroy lives, especially when it targets communities of color. Chula Vista’s use of ALPR technology can be used to track and monitor all of us and threaten our civil liberties. It is critical that the residents of Chula Vista have the opportunity to discuss the use of this technology and the Police Department’s role in sharing information with others, including ICE. The secrecy behind the use of this tracking system needs to be brought to light and Chula Vistans should be a part of the process to determine whether it should even be used. Norell Martinez Location: 91910, Chula Vista Submitted At: 1:33pm 01-23-21 I'm writing in regards to police funding and police surveillance and the use of drones, which is connected to the license plate reader program. It is disturbing to have drones flying over my property. Sometimes drones linger in my backyard for a few minutes before flying away. It is not only an invasion of privacy but we are being surveilled without a warrant or probable cause. While the police department claims that it was in contact with the ACLU and reviewed best practices, this does not sufficiently legitimize the flying of drones over people's homes and in our communities in general. We cannot normalize this! These policing tactics target low-income communities and communities of color. Since drones only operate west of interstate 805, this means that the more affluent residents in East Chula Vista do not have to deal with this nuisance. Since the license plate reader program revealed that police departments can operate with impunity, without little oversight by policy-makers and even less input from the community who is most impacted by these policies, I urge you to reduce police funding and reallocate that funding towards social programs, affordable housing, mental health and drug rehab programs. The city spends over 20% of its budget on police while the community struggles to get the support they need. We do not need more police or technologies to make policing more efficient. We need more resources to help our community thrive. This will benefit the whole community. Agenda Item: eComments for 5. DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING THE EXPANSION OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR PUBLIC INPUT AT COUNCIL MEETINGS Overall Sentiment Pedro Rios Location: 91911, Chula Vista Submitted At: 6:16pm 01-28-21 As a Chula Vista resident and director of the American Friends Service Committee in San Diego, a human rights organization, I urge the Human Relations Commission to urge the City Council to improve the manner in which Chula Vista residents can engage with their elected officials. While the pandemic has caused an extraordinary circumstance for government bodies, other cities have easily accommodated residents with opportunities for audible comments during City Council sessions. The technology is available and it's an easy fix that would ensure City of Chula Vista officials are not in violation of California mandates. Sincerely, Pedro Rios Director US-Mexico Border Program American Friends Service Committee Margaret Baker Location: Submitted At: 6:15pm 01-28-21 In this era of bountiful virtual technology options, it is inexcusable that community members who want to participate in their local city governance are inhibited by 1) lack of any option for giving live, audible public comment in all public meetings; 2) poor audio quality of broadcasts of Council meetings that make it difficult to hear the voices of elected officials who are calling in virtually; 3) complicated Cisco Webex sign-on processes for Commissions and Board meetings - which requires passwords and unclear methods of providing comments, and an inability of knowing who or how many others are participating in the virtual meetings; delays in getting help from the Clerk's when experiencing difficulties - getting call-backs the next day - not in time to resolve the problems; and a dismissiveness on the part of city officials as they read or report on the eComments - sometimes misrepresenting the actual number of comments, their content or the urgency of any issues being raised. I know we could do a better job of fixing these problems. A truly Welcoming City would thank the public for submitting comments, provide people with varying abilities to use technology with multiple platforms for participation, in multiple languages, and respond promptly to inquiries and requests, and reach out to the community to help them have access to public meetings. Please help expand opportunities for public engagement in all public meetings and decision-making. Jerilyn Brown Location: Submitted At: 3:02pm 01-28-21 The Mayor and City Council members need to hear the public comments aloud. When the City Clerk simply gives numbers of comments in support or opposition, they are not hearing what the public concerns about a subject really are. Thank you for considering this! Tama BeckerVarano Location: 92122, San Diego Submitted At: 2:53pm 01-28-21 The City of Chula Vista needs to provide a way for the general public to make audible public comments during their Council meetings. They are failing to abide by the Brown Act which requires government bodies to allow members of the public to address them verbally and to directly address them. Please correct this immediately. Brenda Aguirre Location: 91910, Chula Vista Submitted At: 11:20am 01-28-21 The City of Chula Vista needs to provide a way for the general public to make audible public comments during their Council meetings. They are failing to abide by the Brown Act which requires government bodies to allow members of the public to address them verbally and to directly address them. Please correct this immediately.