Make your voice heard.
Auburn and Opelika installed these cameras without a public hearing. The most direct thing you can do is tell your council member that matters to you.
Email your council member
A direct email from a constituent carries real weight. Council members hear from developers, contractors, and city staff constantly. They hear from residents far less often. A specific, on-the-record question about data policy is hard to ignore.
Auburn City Council
Council member names, ward boundaries, and contact information are listed on the city's official website.
Auburn City Council directory →Opelika City Council
Opelika is a separate city with its own Flock Safety contract and its own elected council. Contact information for all council members is on the city's official website.
Opelika City Council directory →What to say
Copy this, personalize the bracketed parts, and send it to your council member's email above.
Subject: Questions about the Flock Safety contract My name is [your name] and I'm a resident of [neighborhood/ward]. I'm writing about the Flock Safety automated license plate reader cameras in Auburn / Opelika. I have a few questions: 1. How many cameras are currently active? Community mapping shows 84 in the Auburn/Opelika area, but the city's public statement mentioned 20. 2. What is the full annual contract cost and renewal terms? 3. Has Auburn/Opelika published a data retention and usage policy? If so, where? 4. Was there a public hearing before this contract was approved? I think residents deserve to understand what data is being collected about them and under what terms. I'd welcome a response. Thank you, [Your name] [Ward, if known]
Speak at a council meeting
Auburn City Council meets the first and third Tuesday of each month at Auburn City Hall, 144 Tichenor Ave. Current agendas and public comment signup instructions are at auburnalabama.org/agenda. Signup is often required before the meeting.
A straightforward opening: "My name is [name]. I'm a resident of [neighborhood]. I have questions about the Flock Safety cameras installed in our community and I'd like to know when the council plans to hold a public discussion about the contract and data policies."
Opelika City Council meets the first and third Tuesday of each month at 300 Martin Luther King Blvd, Opelika City Hall. Current agendas and council information are at opelika-al.gov/406/City-Council. Signup is often required before the meeting.
For examples of public comment speeches that worked: deflock.org/council Includes recordings from Coralville IA, Denver CO, Eugene OR, Flagstaff AZ, and Lockhart TX.
Spread the word
Share deflockao.com with neighbors, on Nextdoor, and in local Facebook groups.
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