Who Should Be Watching You, Government or Your Neighbors?

Use of Flock cameras has increased dramatically over the past several years.

Technology is changing faster than ever, and with every new tool comes an important question. Just because government can collect more information about law-abiding citizens, does that mean it should?

That question has been on my mind recently as I've followed the discussion surrounding Flock license plate cameras. Here in Delano, we already have Flock cameras, and over the past several weeks I've heard from many residents who have asked thoughtful questions about them.

They want to know what information is being collected, who has access to it, how long it is kept, and what safeguards are in place to protect the privacy of people who have done nothing wrong.

Those aren't unreasonable questions.

In fact, I believe they're exactly the kinds of questions responsible citizens should be asking whenever government adopts new technology. Asking questions doesn't mean you're against law enforcement. It doesn't mean you're against public safety. It simply means you believe government should be transparent about the tools it uses and accountable to the people it serves.

I've always believed that government exists to serve its citizens, not the other way around.

Would our founding fathers approve of Flock cameras?

Too often in today's world, it feels like that relationship has been flipped upside down. Instead of government earning the trust of the people through openness and accountability, we're sometimes expected to simply accept new policies or technologies without much discussion. I don't think that's the right approach. Trust isn't something government should expect by default. It's something that has to be earned every day through honesty, transparency, and respect for the people who elected you.

Throughout my time on the Delano City Council, I've tried to approach every issue with that philosophy in mind. Listen first. Ask questions. Be transparent. Explain your reasoning. Whether we're talking about growth, taxes, transportation, or public safety, the people of Delano deserve to understand how decisions are being made and why.

That same philosophy applies here.

I also believe there's an important distinction between community policing and community surveillance.

One of the things that makes Delano special is the relationship our police officers have with the people they serve. Our officers aren't strangers driving through town. They know our neighborhoods, they recognize familiar faces, they attend community events, and they build relationships with residents. That kind of policing creates trust, and trust is one of the most effective public safety tools any community can have.

I've had the opportunity to speak with members of our law enforcement community over the years, and I have tremendous respect for the difficult work they do every single day. Supporting law enforcement has always been important to me, and it always will be.

But I also believe technology should support those officers, not replace the human relationships that make community policing so effective.

Cameras, databases, and software can be valuable investigative tools when they're used appropriately. They should never become a substitute for the accountability that comes from officers serving the communities they know personally.

One of the concerns I've heard from residents isn't simply about the cameras themselves. It's about what happens over time. Many people understand why technology might be used to help solve serious crimes. What worries them is the possibility that systems gradually expand beyond their original purpose.

History shows that government programs often begin with good intentions, then slowly grow in ways that few people anticipated. That's why I believe every new government power should be carefully examined before it's expanded.

It's much easier to add new authority than it is to scale it back later.

That doesn't mean we reject new technology outright. It means we ask thoughtful questions before embracing it.

How is the information being collected?

Who has access to it?

How long is it retained?

Under what circumstances can it be searched?

What oversight exists to prevent misuse?

How are residents informed?

Those aren't anti-police questions. They're good-government questions.

Public safety and individual liberty don't have to compete with one another.

I reject the idea that we have to choose between being safe and protecting our freedoms. Strong communities are built on both. We should absolutely give law enforcement the tools they need to investigate crime, but we should also make sure those tools are accompanied by clear policies, meaningful oversight, and public accountability.

That's how trust is maintained.

One thing I'd like to see moving forward is a broader public conversation here in Delano.

Rather than assuming everyone understands how these systems work, I believe we should openly discuss them. If elected Mayor, I'd like this topic to come before the Public Safety Committee so residents, law enforcement, city staff, and elected officials can all participate in an honest conversation. People deserve the opportunity to ask questions, hear answers, and understand how these tools are being used in their own community.

Local control has always been one of my core beliefs. The decisions that affect Delano residents should be made here in Delano by leaders who answer directly to the people who elected them. That's one of the strengths of local government. Residents know where to find us. They can attend meetings, ask questions, and hold us accountable. I never want Delano to become a place where important decisions are made without meaningful public involvement.

At the end of the day, this conversation isn't really about cameras.

It's about how we choose to govern ourselves. It's about making sure technology serves people rather than the other way around. It's about preserving the trust between residents and their local government. It's about remembering that protecting public safety and protecting individual liberty are both responsibilities of good leadership.

If I'm given the honor of serving as your Mayor, I'll continue approaching every issue the same way I always have: by listening to residents, asking tough questions, supporting our law enforcement officers, and making sure transparency and accountability remain at the heart of every decision we make.

I believe Delano can continue being a community that's both safe and free. We don't have to sacrifice one to protect the other. In fact, I believe the strongest communities are the ones that never stop working to preserve both.