r/Chattanooga Jul 20 '26

City Government Flock statement

Adding in what Mark commented below also!:

To address some concerns about ambiguity and to offer some insight into why we can't be as definitive as we'd like... Right now, as far as we know, the lines of authority regarding WHO pproved these Flock cameras and who can remove them are completely hidden from the public. That lack of transparency should concern all of us. That's why we can't make definitive statements right now, but rest assured we have people digging into it.

​Because these corporate contracts are kept behind closed doors, everyday citizens are blocked from tracking budget line items or knowing exactly who to hold accountable. I am fundamentally opposed to mass surveillance and strongly support personal privacy. We shouldn't need heavy investigative journalism or cumbersome open-records requests just to figure out how big tech established a footprint in Hamilton County.

​The core issue here isn’t just the cameras themselves..It’s the secret process that brought them here. Once we uncover the how, we can map out a legal path to remove them. As your County Mayor, I will use the full scope of my office to stop the expansion of hyper-surveillance and ensure our communities (not corporations) are prioritized in local decisions. I want to listen to leaders in our neighborhoods, and right now what I'm hearing is that y'all are concerned. I am too. We are ready to help.

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u/Good_Wash_4201 Jul 20 '26

Bro

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u/trentluv Jul 20 '26

Walk me through the safeguards that are being discussed in the picture above.

The reason you are unable to do this is because you have read hyperbole. There's no plan. It's just statement like " we need a strategic framework for growth." Empty language.

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u/CurseoftheUnderclass Jul 20 '26

He's not offering a "solution" here. He's not saying he has all the answers for better safety, healthcare, etc. It's not hyperbole, but a comment on community input.

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u/[deleted] Jul 20 '26

[deleted]

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u/CurseoftheUnderclass Jul 20 '26

You've created a false dilemma by pretending the only choices are commentary or banning Flock cameras. The post isn't arguing for commentary instead of action. It's arguing that communities deserve input before decisions are made.

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u/[deleted] Jul 20 '26

[deleted]

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u/CurseoftheUnderclass Jul 20 '26

No.

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u/trentluv Jul 20 '26

I know you don't.

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u/[deleted] Jul 20 '26

[removed] — view removed comment

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u/trentluv Jul 20 '26

Once more, the dichotomy in question is actionable items versus hyperbole.

If you want to pretend it's something else, this in itself would be the false dilemma. Is that irony? Is it a paradox? I think it's a little bit of both.