CONTACT
CITY
COUNCIL
Please remember that maintaining decorum ensures that everyone has an opportunity to express their views in a civil and orderly manner. We have worked hard to foster a constructive dialogue between ARFA and our government officials and we want to set a positive example for future civic engagement, promoting a culture of respect and cooperation in local governance processes.
Public Comment or Email Template:
Dear [City Council Member],
My name is [NAME], and I live in [NEIGHBORHOOD/AMARILLO].
I am asking the City of Amarillo to cancel the citywide contract regarding the use of surveillance cameras and the collection, storage, access, and sharing of surveillance data.
I support public safety, but I do not believe public safety should require the government to track the movements of ordinary people who are not suspected of a crime.
Surveillance systems can reveal where people live, work, worship, organize, visit friends, and seek medical care. We have already seen ALPR systems abused for purposes far beyond investigating violent crime, including tracking people seeking reproductive healthcare and assisting federal immigration enforcement.
I am particularly concerned about the impact this technology could have on reproductive freedom, privacy, freedom of movement, immigrants, survivors of abuse, protesters, and other vulnerable members of our community. These concerns are only heightened by the recent firing of an APD officer over surveillance camera misuse.
I ask the City to establish clear limits on:
• what information can be collected
• how long it can be retained
• who can access it
• when a warrant should be required
• whether and with whom data can be shared
• how misuse will be investigated and punished
I also ask the City to prioritize investments in the resources that address the root causes of violence and make communities safer including healthcare, housing, mental health services, youth programs, and economic opportunity.
We can protect Amarillo without turning Amarillo into a surveillance city.
Thank you for listening.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Your Zip Code or Neighborhood]
Remember that you cannot email all the council members at the same time. This email will need to be sent separately to each member’s email address:
Mayor Cole Stanley: cole.stanley@amarillo.gov
Councilman Place 1, Tim Reid: josh.craft@amarillo.gov
Councilman Place 2, Don Tipps: don.tipps@amarillo.gov
Councilman Place 3, David Prescott: david.prescott@amarillo.gov
Councilman Place 4, Les Simpson: les.simpson@amarillo.gov
Please note that the city secretary has to be CC’d on all correspondence: stephanie.coggins@amarillo.gov
Voicemail/Text Template:
Hello [City Council Member's Name]!
My name is [Your Name], and I’m a resident of Amarillo. I’m urging you cancel the city’s contract with Flock and/or other camera surveillance technology.
We should be able to trust our city officials without having to surrender our privacy. If someone is suspected of a crime, law enforcement should already have the necessary investigatory tools at their disposal.
This technology is already being abused within APD. Our city should be investing in things that actually make our neighborhoods safer and stronger. Good emergency response, well-resourced public services, mental health resources, youth programs, housing stability, victim services, and strong relationships between neighbors and local institutions all contribute to a safer community.
Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter.
Sincerely,
[Your Name] [Zip Code]
Remember that you cannot call/text all the council members at the same time. This will need to be sent separately to each member’s phone number:
Mayor Cole Stanley: (806) 584-6175
Councilman Place 1, Tim Reid: (806) 376-0780
Councilman Place 2, Don Tipps: (806) 673-7770
Councilman Place 3, David Prescott: (806) 674-6062
Councilman Place 4, Les Simpson: (806) 681-9452
Please note that the script can be used for a phone call, voicemail, or text.
Talking Points:
Surveillance ≠ Safety
We all want a safer Amarillo. Supporting public safety doesn’t mean that we have to support collecting information about anyone and everyone who passes a camera. These systems do not make us safer, and the benefits could never outweigh the loss of privacy.
There’s a BIG difference between investigating a crime and monitoring everyone. If someone is suspected of a crime, law enforcement should already have plenty of investigative tools at their disposal. Flock cameras are not full-proof, and police still owe the citizens they serve to do their investigative due diligence rather than relying on surveillance tech alone.
We should be able to trust our city government without having to surrender our privacy. Public safety should not require Amarilloans to accept that their everyday movements are being recorded, stored, searched, or shared just because they passed by a camera.
Built To Do More Than Just Read License Plates
Depending on the technology, these modern surveillance systems can identify and track vehicles by their make, model, color, damage, and other distinguishing features. Some systems can analyze people themselves, including facial characteristics, physical movement, and even gait. What starts as a camera on the corner can quickly snowball into a detailed record of how people move in their community.
A surveillance state doesn’t appear overnight. It gets built little by little, one camera, one database, at a time. A system introduced to find stolen cares can very easily become a part of a much larger network of information about our lives. In the days where our data is being leaked or stolen constantly, even more of our privacy being taken away feels particularly sinister.
While this city council and police chief might say they want to do the right thing, government technology doesn’t disappear when administrations change. We should never build a system powerful enough to harm people and simply cross our fingers in hopes that whoever inherits it will use it wisely.
Power is Often Misused
An APD officer was recently fired after allegedly accessing Flock more than 75 times for reasons unrelated to police work. This isn’t in Dallas, or Houston (although it’s happening there too), it’s already being abused here.
What assurance can APD give us that this behavior won’t continue? We need strong rules, audits, accountability, and consequences that don’t depend on everyone with access always making the right choice.
Our personal privacy shouldn’t depend on who happens to be holding the keys. Today’s elected officials and police leadership won’t necessarily be here tomorrow. Good policy will protect Amarilloans regardless of who is in office, who is chief, or who has access to this type of technology.
Surveillance Doesn’t Affect Everyone Equally
History shows us that surveillance is often used most against folks with the least power. Black communities, immigrants, activists, and other marginalized groups have repeatedly experienced disproportionate government scrutiny. That should always make us cautions about expanding surveillance powers.
It is imperative to recognize that even the best-laid plans can have unequal consequences depending on who is being watched, who migh get flagged or searched, and who has the resources to challenge the government when something goes wrong.
Privacy protects EVERYONE (even the people you disagree with!). You may never need an abortion. You may never attend a protest, or worry about ICE in your neighborhood. You might never have to be afraid of being targeting, but your neighbor might. If we believe in equal rights, those protections have to extend to everyone.
We Can Build Safety Without Surveillance
Our city should be investing in things that actually make our neighborhoods safer and stronger. Good emergency response, well-resourced public services, mental health resources, youth programs, housing stability, victim services, and strong relationships between neighbors and local institutions all contribute to a safer community.
We shouldn’t have to choose between safety and freedom. We can care about a lower crime rate while caring about privacy. We can want safer streets without wanting a city where everyone’s movements are constantly recorded. We can look out for our neighbors without watching our neighbors.
If the city of Amarillo continues using this surveillance technology, it needs meaningful guardrails. Amarillo should have clear rules about what can be collected, how long it can be retained, who is able to access it, when and why that access is allowed, whether information can be shared with other agencies, and what happens when someone else abuses that access.