Hi neighbors,
I went to the City Council Candidates Forum Wednesday night. I have some thoughts and was glad to see Flock cameras come up as a main topic, but I want to rewatch it before sharing more.
Sometimes the headlines do all the work. It does not take much to connect the dots and see the risks:
Here in Mountlake Terrace, we are in a waiting game. At the September 25 meeting, the City Manager said the city will not install Flock cameras until the Stanwood lawsuit is resolved. That could mean months. A year. Or more.
Many of you told me that while the meeting seemed like a win, it also left a bad taste. One example: Adam C., who has been consistently speaking out against Flock via Zoom, was told to comment during general public comment instead of the “Public Hearing” on the policing board ordinance. While he spoke, some council members and staff were visibly distracted, talking, moving around, even ducking under the table to fix technical issues. It came across as dismissive.
Others pointed out that certain council questions felt disingenuous, more aimed at weakening oversight than strengthening it. That reinforced a lingering concern: that the pause is just a delay, and the city is betting residents will get tired of showing up, leaving room to quietly move forward later.
We have also heard council members continue to say that “everyone” they talk to supports Flock. But clearly that does not include the residents showing up month after month to speak out. When elected officials value the opinions of police chiefs and other politicians over their own constituents, it is a problem.
So where does that leave us? On one hand, we are waiting for a lawsuit with no clear timeline. On the other, we are just 32 days away from an election that could immediately reshape the council. With what looks like a narrow 4 to 3 split in support of Flock, one seat flipping could make the difference.
The Community Policing Advisory Board does appear likely to return, which is good. But the bigger picture is clear: the outcome of this election matters. New council members could tip the balance on whether Mountlake Terrace installs Flock cameras or chooses a different path. If this issue concerns you, pay close attention to who is running and make sure your voice is heard in November.
I will share more soon about what the candidates said at the forum.
Until next time,
Dustin