This adoption of additional, new and more invasive vehicle tracking technologies should have more public consideration and oversight, including from those communities being disproportionately policed. How much will it cost and what will be the acceptable range of uses? How will violation of basic human rights and discriminatory practices be prevented? What exactly are the aims of this technology, and if those aims are acceptable from a public safety perspective, what oversight procedures are in place to ensure that the technologies will only be applied for those specific uses? What are the limits to police uses of surveillance technologies? Have these technologies proven to be worth the expense, and in fact a better use of funds than other programs to help communities? Who exactly is receiving financial benefits from the purchase of these new technologies? How will this new program be audited, and how will its effectiveness and harms be evaluated?
This is ridiculous, why is CVPD finding new ways to intimidate and harass the good residents of Chula Vista. I cannot believe the mismanagement of information. I would personally like to track where most of our funds are being spent; is it on the dehumanization of the public or glorification of the illegal abusive terroristic tactics of law enforcement?
I hope this city gets its act together and creates a safe and responsible environment.
My name is Rafael Bautista, an organizer with the San Diego Tenants Union. I am writing to oppose the continued use of surveillance against the public. We have many members in Chula Vista who are concerned about being exposed and data getting breached. These systems surveillance are creating a policed state. This is very bad for democracy and freedom.
Hello, my name is Maya Misra and I am a member of Asian Solidarity Collective. I am writing to urge you to vote against the continued use of ALPRs, which have been employed with no oversight or transparency. Performative attempts to respond to the community's rightful outrage have been utterly insufficient in adequately addressing our valid fears and concerns regarding surveillance, including who has access to those surveillance records. Residents deserve the right to live and move about in peace, and the use of ALPRs is a gross violation of community safety.
April 14, 2021
My name is Connie Mack. I live at 278 5th Ave.
My family moved to Chula Vista , from Fargo, North Dakota in 1960, when I was six years old. I attended four different CV Elementary schools, CV Middle School, CV High School and Southwestern College… I taught K-2nd in the CVESD for 27 years. My girls grew up in CV and attended Chula Vista schools.
I was part of a group here that put on educational forums about current issues. We tried to be nonpartisan and look at the issue from the standpoint of teaching people ABOUT the issue, not necessarily taking a position on either side.
Some examples of our forums were “Freedom of the Press”, ““The Constitution”,“City Planning 101”
The point was that these forums were to teach the community about issues that were in the news everyday they could not have a meaningful discussion about them. I would like to see an educational forum about the subject of “Surveillance” . How it is used and where? How many other cities are beginning to use surveillance like ALPR and has it gone well? What is the history ?? What are the pros and cons and how does it help law enforcement and what is the danger it might infringe on any rights of privacy? And if we do have surveillance, what kinds of oversight need to be in place?
I am glad that the vote is not being taken right a way… and maybe the discussion and understanding of the topic can be developed a little deeper
I am in strong opposition to the use of the ALPR program. A sanctuary city should not be gathering and sharing information of the people that live and travel through it. There has not been enough information shared with the community. Only because the ALPR program was exposed in a UT article we are hearing about this now. Not even the police chief knew how much information and with who it was being shared with. There are no clear oversight mechanisms. Please end the use of the ALPR program.
I am a resident of Chula Vista and strongly oppose this ALPR surveillance as it violates privacy. I’m very disappointed in CVPD for their participation in a program like this.
I have voiced various concerns regarding ALPR to different city stakeholders. Today, I want to focus on two imperatives that I feel are critical: 1. the creation of an independent oversight committee that examines, critiques, audits, and makes recommendations on the city's smart technology and data sharing systems/programs. 2. A pathway to repair community harm that is a result of data sharing with ICE, border patrol, and homeland security.
My name is Erin Tsurumoto Grassi and I am the regional policy director for Alliance San Diego. On behalf of Alliance San Diego, I want to reiterate our deep concerns with CVPD's ALPR program, particularly how the data is shared on the Vigilant Solutions LEARN database. While CVPD is no longer sharing data with BP and ICE through the LEARN database, there are still other federal immigration agencies that have access to the database. Since there is no way to control whether or not another department will share CVPD's ALPR data once it is on the LEARN database, we would recommend that they stop allowing the data to be shared with other agencies through Vigilant Solutions altogether. ALPR data is already shared and stored on ARJIS, which means that San Diego County agencies already have access to each other’s ALPR data. Further, while the ALPR report claims that sharing ALPR data with federal immigration agencies is not a violation of SB 54, at the end of the day, it violates the spirit of the California Values Act and does not engender public trust.
I am strongly opposed to this ALPR surveillance. As a Chula Vista native I am very disappointed to see CV participate in a program like this, and there is no excuse as to why the community was not informed prior. Stop the ALPR now.
I oppose the ALPR system for Chula Vista (CV). CV communities don’t need to be terrorized by ICE.
Due to surveillance, people like us (who don’t live in CV) are turning away from visiting CV. This hurts the local businesses.
Chula Vista has failed with its ALPR program & is clearly incapable of auditing itself. Its report did not adequately account for total costs, usage, effectiveness/harm, civil liberties/privacy protections, disproportionate impact on certain groups, etc. We can’t trust when the City makes decisions to hire a private company that profits off contracts with federal agencies like ICE, & cannot control third-party sharing or prevent abuse of the millions of license plate images & associated data that are collected as we go about our daily lives, & then refers to us throughout their report as “offenders.”
The police forum was not open, accessible or community-friendly; but it did reveal a huge disconnect between the City’s “story” & the legitimate questions, concerns, & yes, FACTS, raised by community members for over 3 months in eComments, emails & substantive letters sent to city officials – NONE of which has been addressed or shared openly with the general public. Our voices have been muted, our engagement denied. We do not have easy access to these public comments & we do not trust the CVPD to provide a fair & comprehensive summary. We can’t allow technologies to continue to be used unchecked. We need a moratorium on the ALPR program while we develop usage & privacy ordinances building on best practices from cities like Oakland & San Diego, & establish an independent community-led privacy board. We want a seat at the table NOW & the power to create safeguards & prevent abuse.
I am a Chula Vista resident and I oppose the use of this surveillance program. There isn't much substantive information of how this kind of data is used and shared, and this program lacks transparency amongst resident. Please vote to stop ALPR.
"As student advisory board member of Borderlands for Equity, I urge Mayor Salas and all the Council members to stop Chula Vista's ALPR program that continues to share information with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), or among the 800 possible agencies. We know the ALPR program violates the privacy of the residents/business owners and CVPD has not been transparent or made their data accessible to community members or organizations. CVPD has shared its information with Border Patrol, ICE, and continues to share with HSI. If it were not for the UT article, CVPD would continue to do so. By their own admission, CVPD determined in their April 2020 report, that it was not in violation of SB 54 (CA Values Act). However, Chief Kennedy remarked at a public meeting with her CVPD civilian commission, that she had absolutely no idea that the ALPR program shared information with immigration enforcement authorities. Chula Vista residents, business owners, and community organizations deserve better. Please stop the usage of ALPR's by CVPD."
This adoption of additional, new and more invasive vehicle tracking technologies should have more public consideration and oversight, including from those communities being disproportionately policed. How much will it cost and what will be the acceptable range of uses? How will violation of basic human rights and discriminatory practices be prevented? What exactly are the aims of this technology, and if those aims are acceptable from a public safety perspective, what oversight procedures are in place to ensure that the technologies will only be applied for those specific uses? What are the limits to police uses of surveillance technologies? Have these technologies proven to be worth the expense, and in fact a better use of funds than other programs to help communities? Who exactly is receiving financial benefits from the purchase of these new technologies? How will this new program be audited, and how will its effectiveness and harms be evaluated?
This is ridiculous, why is CVPD finding new ways to intimidate and harass the good residents of Chula Vista. I cannot believe the mismanagement of information. I would personally like to track where most of our funds are being spent; is it on the dehumanization of the public or glorification of the illegal abusive terroristic tactics of law enforcement?
I hope this city gets its act together and creates a safe and responsible environment.
Aleena Jun
My name is Rafael Bautista, an organizer with the San Diego Tenants Union. I am writing to oppose the continued use of surveillance against the public. We have many members in Chula Vista who are concerned about being exposed and data getting breached. These systems surveillance are creating a policed state. This is very bad for democracy and freedom.
Hello, my name is Maya Misra and I am a member of Asian Solidarity Collective. I am writing to urge you to vote against the continued use of ALPRs, which have been employed with no oversight or transparency. Performative attempts to respond to the community's rightful outrage have been utterly insufficient in adequately addressing our valid fears and concerns regarding surveillance, including who has access to those surveillance records. Residents deserve the right to live and move about in peace, and the use of ALPRs is a gross violation of community safety.
April 14, 2021
My name is Connie Mack. I live at 278 5th Ave.
My family moved to Chula Vista , from Fargo, North Dakota in 1960, when I was six years old. I attended four different CV Elementary schools, CV Middle School, CV High School and Southwestern College… I taught K-2nd in the CVESD for 27 years. My girls grew up in CV and attended Chula Vista schools.
I was part of a group here that put on educational forums about current issues. We tried to be nonpartisan and look at the issue from the standpoint of teaching people ABOUT the issue, not necessarily taking a position on either side.
Some examples of our forums were “Freedom of the Press”, ““The Constitution”,“City Planning 101”
The point was that these forums were to teach the community about issues that were in the news everyday they could not have a meaningful discussion about them. I would like to see an educational forum about the subject of “Surveillance” . How it is used and where? How many other cities are beginning to use surveillance like ALPR and has it gone well? What is the history ?? What are the pros and cons and how does it help law enforcement and what is the danger it might infringe on any rights of privacy? And if we do have surveillance, what kinds of oversight need to be in place?
I am glad that the vote is not being taken right a way… and maybe the discussion and understanding of the topic can be developed a little deeper
I am in strong opposition to the use of the ALPR program. A sanctuary city should not be gathering and sharing information of the people that live and travel through it. There has not been enough information shared with the community. Only because the ALPR program was exposed in a UT article we are hearing about this now. Not even the police chief knew how much information and with who it was being shared with. There are no clear oversight mechanisms. Please end the use of the ALPR program.
I strongly oppose Automated License Plate Recognition being implemented.
I am a resident of Chula Vista and strongly oppose this ALPR surveillance as it violates privacy. I’m very disappointed in CVPD for their participation in a program like this.
I have voiced various concerns regarding ALPR to different city stakeholders. Today, I want to focus on two imperatives that I feel are critical: 1. the creation of an independent oversight committee that examines, critiques, audits, and makes recommendations on the city's smart technology and data sharing systems/programs. 2. A pathway to repair community harm that is a result of data sharing with ICE, border patrol, and homeland security.
My name is Erin Tsurumoto Grassi and I am the regional policy director for Alliance San Diego. On behalf of Alliance San Diego, I want to reiterate our deep concerns with CVPD's ALPR program, particularly how the data is shared on the Vigilant Solutions LEARN database. While CVPD is no longer sharing data with BP and ICE through the LEARN database, there are still other federal immigration agencies that have access to the database. Since there is no way to control whether or not another department will share CVPD's ALPR data once it is on the LEARN database, we would recommend that they stop allowing the data to be shared with other agencies through Vigilant Solutions altogether. ALPR data is already shared and stored on ARJIS, which means that San Diego County agencies already have access to each other’s ALPR data. Further, while the ALPR report claims that sharing ALPR data with federal immigration agencies is not a violation of SB 54, at the end of the day, it violates the spirit of the California Values Act and does not engender public trust.
I am strongly opposed to this ALPR surveillance. As a Chula Vista native I am very disappointed to see CV participate in a program like this, and there is no excuse as to why the community was not informed prior. Stop the ALPR now.
Please give more time for input And
consideration before any permits division is made.
As a Chula Vista native I strongly oppose ALPR, it is a tool for governmental overreach as well as an invasion of privacy.
I oppose the ALPR system for Chula Vista (CV). CV communities don’t need to be terrorized by ICE.
Due to surveillance, people like us (who don’t live in CV) are turning away from visiting CV. This hurts the local businesses.
Chula Vista has failed with its ALPR program & is clearly incapable of auditing itself. Its report did not adequately account for total costs, usage, effectiveness/harm, civil liberties/privacy protections, disproportionate impact on certain groups, etc. We can’t trust when the City makes decisions to hire a private company that profits off contracts with federal agencies like ICE, & cannot control third-party sharing or prevent abuse of the millions of license plate images & associated data that are collected as we go about our daily lives, & then refers to us throughout their report as “offenders.”
The police forum was not open, accessible or community-friendly; but it did reveal a huge disconnect between the City’s “story” & the legitimate questions, concerns, & yes, FACTS, raised by community members for over 3 months in eComments, emails & substantive letters sent to city officials – NONE of which has been addressed or shared openly with the general public. Our voices have been muted, our engagement denied. We do not have easy access to these public comments & we do not trust the CVPD to provide a fair & comprehensive summary. We can’t allow technologies to continue to be used unchecked. We need a moratorium on the ALPR program while we develop usage & privacy ordinances building on best practices from cities like Oakland & San Diego, & establish an independent community-led privacy board. We want a seat at the table NOW & the power to create safeguards & prevent abuse.
I am a resident of Chula Vista and I oppose this because it is a violation of privacy.Stop ALPR
This is not okay, as a Chula Vista resident I oppose the use of the surveillance program.
I am a resident of Chula vista and I oppose this program since this violates the privacy of individuals.
I am a Chula Vista resident and I oppose the use of this surveillance program. There isn't much substantive information of how this kind of data is used and shared, and this program lacks transparency amongst resident. Please vote to stop ALPR.
"As student advisory board member of Borderlands for Equity, I urge Mayor Salas and all the Council members to stop Chula Vista's ALPR program that continues to share information with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), or among the 800 possible agencies. We know the ALPR program violates the privacy of the residents/business owners and CVPD has not been transparent or made their data accessible to community members or organizations. CVPD has shared its information with Border Patrol, ICE, and continues to share with HSI. If it were not for the UT article, CVPD would continue to do so. By their own admission, CVPD determined in their April 2020 report, that it was not in violation of SB 54 (CA Values Act). However, Chief Kennedy remarked at a public meeting with her CVPD civilian commission, that she had absolutely no idea that the ALPR program shared information with immigration enforcement authorities. Chula Vista residents, business owners, and community organizations deserve better. Please stop the usage of ALPR's by CVPD."