Alameda County Pays Flock Safety Bill, Signals Fight Over Future Contract
Supervisors settle overdue tab but raise deep concerns about vendor ahead of looming rebid; Bid for CA14 placeholder candidate falls to Wieckowski as special election field awaits Wahab's decision
☕️MORNING BUZZ
Vol. VI, No. 1,251
—The Alameda County Board of Supervisors approved payment Tuesday for automated license plate reader services provided by Flock Safety, settling a bill that was nearly nine months overdue.
But the vote also exposed growing skepticism that could complicate the company’s future with the county.
—Echoing recent debates in Oakland and Richmond, privacy advocates again urged the board to reconsider its reliance on Flock’s surveillance technology. Still, Tuesday’s item was narrowly framed as fulfilling an existing obligation.
“We’re going to pay the bill that we owe,” Supervisor David Haubert said.
Alameda County Sheriff Yesenia Sanchez backed the payment, warning that failure to do so would reinforce perceptions among residents in unincorporated areas that the county overlooks their public safety needs.
“I think the county should fulfill the obligation and pay the bill,” Sanchez said.
—The larger battle looms ahead. The county’s contract with Flock Safety expires June 30, and Sanchez said a new agreement will be put out to bid—a process that could take six to eight months.
Several supervisors signaled strong criticism of Flock Safety.
Supervisor Elisa Márquez voted no, citing a lack of trust in the company and referencing confidential information that informed her decision.
“I don’t trust this specific vendor, and they have a proven track record of violating our trust,” Márquez said.
Supervisor Nikki Fortunato Bas was even more direct: “I do not trust Flock Safety,” she said, pointing to past violations of state law involving data access.
Supervisor Lena Tam voted in support of the contract, but she too voiced concern about Flock Safety, which indicates there could be a narrow majority that would oppose a new contract with Flock Safety in the future.
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