Richmond Council Weighs Surveillance Deal and Safety Measures

Richmond's City Council will consider a $3.5 million deal with Axon to replace the city's Flock license plate cameras. This is the third time the proposal has come before the council. The deal would add 110 license plate readers, 60 surveillance cameras, and 11 drones to the city's existing Axon contract, bringing the total contract value to $12 million. Police argue that switching to Axon would save money, as the city currently pays Flock about $1 million annually compared to $700,000 for Axon equipment. They also cite issues with Flock, including billing for uninstalled equipment and cameras pointed in the wrong direction.

Supporters of the deal, like Edith Alderette, point to recent crimes where license plate cameras helped identify suspects, such as the El Cerrito killing and a hit-and-run on 23rd Street. Opponents, however, argue that changing vendors won't address the underlying issues. Alicia Alexander wrote, 'Axon is just a different company offering the same so-called services as Flock.' Some council members want a $20,000 study on the effectiveness of license plate readers and a presentation from the Electronic Frontier Foundation, which argues that the cameras track everyone, not just suspects.

Additionally, councilmembers Jamelia Brown and Cesar Zepeda are pushing for quick safety fixes on 23rd Street following two deadly pedestrian crashes. They propose high-visibility crosswalks, flashing beacons, and speed signs. The city will also review a preliminary health study on air pollution from the Chevron refinery, which estimates a worst-case cancer risk of 37 in a million for the most exposed location. Other items on the agenda include a request for armored police vehicles, a veterans' housing project, and repairs to a sewer line at Keller Beach.