‘Big Brother’ concerns noted, Cleveland Heights renews contract for license plate readers

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CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, Ohio — Mayor Kahlil Seren assured residents that all of the surveillance contained in a high-tech camera contract renewal will be limited to reading license plates.

Prior to extending the contract another five years for Flock Group safety cameras on Feb. 20 — and locking the price in at $50,000 a year — City Council President Tony Cuda asked Seren to address any “Big Brother concerns” in the community about potential abuses.

“On a personal level, I’m not a huge fan of the surveillance state,” Seren said. “At the same time, without a police officer physically present, I think that our ability to see whether a stolen car being used to commit other crimes has passed through an intersection is worth having these cameras.”

Seren acknowledged concerns about the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) and facial recognition, “which we are not using with this or other surveillance systems.”

“When license plates come up in our database, it’s important for the safety and security of our residents that we can be alerted to that,” he added.

The Flock Group safety cameras provide notification and have “safeguards in place as to who is allowed to access these systems to prevent abuse,” Seren said. “Looking at the tradeoff, I’d prefer that we stop a carjacking from happening than respond with fewer tools to do so.”

Noble neighborhood residents Diane Hallum and C.J. Nash offered their support for continued use of these cameras and more in light of recent criminal activity, with a $1.1 million citywide expansion and upgrade of “blue light” cameras also in the works.

Gaza resolution

Former City Council President Melody Joy Hart also attended the Feb. 20 meeting, urging the legislative body to move forward with any one of three resolutions she drafted earlier calling for a cease-fire in Gaza.

“We all passed the resolution condemning the attack on Israel by Hamas” in October, Hart said. “With the continued war and many innocent civilians on both sides dying, I provided three options to council — open to further negotiation, if desired.”

Citing the Cleveland Heights mantra that “All are Welcome,” Hart said that “while supporting our Jewish community, we must also support others who are suffering with innocent Palestinian relatives in the conflict region as well.”

“I think we can all agree that innocent people should be protected.”

Hart was one of several people speaking in favor of a resolution in support of Gaza during the public comment portion of the council, some having lost numerous family members in the ensuing war.

Councilman Anthony Mattox Jr. said he planned to re-introduce legislation “in terms of supporting what’s happening with our Palestinian brothers and sisters.”

Taylor Tudor

On fourth reading, council also approved a development agreement for the restoration of the Taylor Tudor buildings as part of the Cain Park Village revitalization project.

“This is another long-coming transformative project for the city,” Assistant Economic Development Director Brian Anderson told council, noting that a request for proposals went out in November 2021.

He noted that there will be a “trailing” tax increment financing (TIF) ordinance coming before council soon, with the Cleveland Heights-University Heights school board expected to vote on the district’s TIF and “school compensation agreement” either in special session or the scheduled March meeting.

“Taylor Road is one of the areas that we all identified as needing a facelift,” Cuda said. “And this is a big shot in the arm.”

Citizens’ Committees

Councilwoman Gail Larson asked residents to submit applications for the Climate and Environmental Sustainability Citizens’ Committee as well as the Transportation and Mobility Citizens’ Committee.

“This is a chance to become engaged with the activities going on in City Hall,” Larson said, referring interested residents to the city website to sign up.

Read more from the Sun Press.

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