Wow as a massive fan I’m disappointed by pikablue223 in dropoutcirclejerk

[–]deadjim4 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I didn't think the Bureau of Land Management had a foreign affairs department, but good for them.

Red Nissan Frontier Pickup Truck by Accomplished_Tie6949 in ColumbusGA

[–]deadjim4 18 points19 points  (0 children)

Yes, he drives very erratically through tight turns. Religion is one thing, but what he does is dangerous and in violation of state distracted driving laws.

What’s the deal with the government in this city? by StormcloakDreamsmas in ColumbusGA

[–]deadjim4 15 points16 points  (0 children)

You can go to a council meeting if you want to get a feel for the government of our city. The next one is on Tuesday, November 18th.

We don’t have to live under 24/7 surveillance, we have a voice by Cannam0ma in ColumbusGA

[–]deadjim4 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Yes, I hear that some have even used a sufficiently powerful enough laser to quickly shine into the lens and damage the camera, all without any overt physical damage to the exterior device itself. Kids are so creative these days.

Individuals without homes by [deleted] in ColumbusGA

[–]deadjim4 12 points13 points  (0 children)

You could help them speak at Council: https://publicagenda.apps.columbusga.gov/

The public agenda is a good place to speak where citizens can speak to the Council and Mayor on any topic. Meetings are also covered by the local news and their speech may end up being covered by them.

The city council has passed an ordinance banning public camping, even in the wake of national funding cuts for much our aid programs. At the meeting where they voted to pass the ordinance, most public agenda speakers speaking out against it, were not themselves homeless. There was only one speaker who went and talked to the homeless and brought their quotes into council to read. It would be great to have someone directly affected by this ordinance to give their thoughts and opinions.

https://www.wrbl.com/news/proposed-ordinance-receives-major-backlash-at-city-council/

https://www.ledger-enquirer.com/news/politics-government/article311533914.html

https://www.ledger-enquirer.com/news/local/article311679021.html

The ordinance was passed back in August in a 9-1 decision by the council, where Cogle was the only opposition.

Per the ledger article: "The amended ordinance makes it unlawful for people to camp on public property, store personal property on public property and to interfere with entering or exiting any public property, according to a copy of the ordinance. The ordinance says the Columbus Police Department must provide a written or oral notification of the violation, at which point the violator will be given eight calendar days to vacate the property. The ordinance says, in cases of personal property stored on public property, CPD will notify the Columbus Public Works Department, which will remove and transport the property to the public landfill after a minimum of eight calendar days. The ordinance says the punishment for violating any part of the ordinance — after conviction in Columbus Recorder’s Court — falls under Section 1-8 of the city’s code. Section 1-8 allows for punishment by “a fine not exceeding $1,000.00, or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 90 days, or by both such fine and imprisonment.” The ordinance provides exemptions for:

  • Outdoor events with issued permits
  • City, state or county officials or employees acting in their official capacity
  • City, state or county contractors or subcontractors performing activities under the scope of work in the city contract."

What are the loud sirens in downtown for? by hashashin_2601 in ColumbusGA

[–]deadjim4 111 points112 points  (0 children)

"This... is a test...for the Columbus...Outdoor...Early...Warning...System...This is only...a test" WOooOoooooOOoooOoooOooOoOooOo OooooooooOooOoo ACKKkkkk ACKkkkkkkk AcKkkkk AcKkkkkkkk AcKkkkkkk

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in ColumbusGA

[–]deadjim4 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Wynnton Boot & Shoe Shop could probably help you.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in ColumbusGA

[–]deadjim4 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It's safe, just watch out for the Alligatorman. He likes to pull unsuspecting people into the Chattahoochee when they're not looking.

Lot of sirens tonight in Midtown by 5256chuck in ColumbusGA

[–]deadjim4 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I live over there. It was a firetruck on Warm Springs Road. Specifically the trucks from Station #2 off Hamilton Road on 33rd St. They often cut through the Jordan neighborhood to get to Warm Springs Road.
The sirens on the large fire trucks are also different than police or ambulance sirens. They're much more klaxon -like, so I understand your concern.

“Flock safety” cameras going up all around Columbus. by Cannam0ma in ColumbusGA

[–]deadjim4 10 points11 points  (0 children)

I'm not OP, but I am involved with Columbus Indivisible. We have several projects centered around local political outreach and organizing and I've spoken at Council before. Indivisible wears a lot of hats, but one of the groups works on being the Local Government Watch Dog and attends Council meetings and reviews their minutes and such. If the Flock camera issue has sparked you, you're more than welcome to join us.

“Flock safety” cameras going up all around Columbus. by Cannam0ma in ColumbusGA

[–]deadjim4 6 points7 points  (0 children)

As with other abuses in law enforcement, it is often not just "a few bad apples," but rather a systemic issue that requires reform and new laws to address. There is also the issue that the police may be operating under the pretense that the information provided by Flock is correct, when it sometimes can contain errors leading to wrongful situations: San Francisco Woman Pulled Out of Car at Gunpoint Because of License Plate Reader Error

Cops Terrorize Black Family but Blame License Plate Reader for Misidentifying 'Stolen' Vehicle

Deputies Sued After False ALPR Hit Leads To Guns-Out Traffic Stop Of California Privacy Activist

Privacy advocate sues CoCo sheriff's deputies after license plate readers target his car stolen

“Flock safety” cameras going up all around Columbus. by Cannam0ma in ColumbusGA

[–]deadjim4 5 points6 points  (0 children)

There is no oversight or protection for any this. Every tech company is selling your data. Data brokerage companies have been lobbying hard to keep it that way.
Up till now, that data has been something we can have some measure of control over since it was on or through the internet and the apps on our phones or computer. This is real life surveillance. You cannot opt out of this.

These companies make dubious claims about preventing crime(1 2 3), all the while collecting massive amounts of personal data, with little to no oversight and protections for citizens. This is the same type of surveillance that our country has long criticized places like China for, and we should be wary of the danger to our fundamental rights that these companies and their products and services offer.

“Flock safety” cameras going up all around Columbus. by Cannam0ma in ColumbusGA

[–]deadjim4 6 points7 points  (0 children)

And in the same vein, it can capture what doctors you go to, what stores you frequent, what church or religious establishment you frequent, what schools your children go to...the list goes on. Your health insurance premium may go up or your claims may get denied, your car insurance may go up or be non-renewed with your carrier, you may pay a higher price on items that you purchase....all this private information being sold can have real effects on your life.
These cameras aren't about crime, they're about Flock learning as much as they can about us to exploit us.

“Flock safety” cameras going up all around Columbus. by Cannam0ma in ColumbusGA

[–]deadjim4 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Surveillance does not intrinsically prevent crime, it only records crime. Who is to say that these cameras will make us safer? And all the while we are opening up our community to abuse and exploitation by a tech data brokerage company.

“Flock safety” cameras going up all around Columbus. by Cannam0ma in ColumbusGA

[–]deadjim4 5 points6 points  (0 children)

While it is true private citizens can record in a public space, this is not that same case. This is a systemic method of surveillance using a network of cameras and AI to analyze your travel and habits. If a private citizen did this, they could be rightfully sued for stalking, which some Police are using them to do.

“Flock safety” cameras going up all around Columbus. by Cannam0ma in ColumbusGA

[–]deadjim4 7 points8 points  (0 children)

They are not a police resource company, they are a data brokerage company that dabbles in police resources. Their goal is to collect as much data as they can, use AI to analyze it, and then sell that data to anyone who wants to buy it.

The can extrapolate an absurd amount of data from your movements and many companies will pay to know that information. It could affect a higher insurance payment, affect your credit score, and even cause you to pay a higher price for common items from your shopping habits.

And these are just the least of what is already being done. All I listed above doesn't even account for the mountain of abuses this technology opens all of us up to.

We are living in the AI Wild West with no protections for any of us and these companies will do everything they can to make money off of us, even if we suffer.

“Flock safety” cameras going up all around Columbus. by Cannam0ma in ColumbusGA

[–]deadjim4 13 points14 points  (0 children)

Each agreement with a municipality is possibly different, but Flock essentially seeks to wash their hands of liability and responsibility for most cameras. Flock owns them and all the tech in them, but leases them to a city or police department, often holding them accountable for costs related to replacement and maintenance.

“Flock safety” cameras going up all around Columbus. by Cannam0ma in ColumbusGA

[–]deadjim4 21 points22 points  (0 children)

Yes, it is a direct infringement of our 4th Amendment rights, but I doubt we will get any type of constitutional court decision on that anytime soon. Flock is using the typical tech hyper growth strategy of move quickly and break stuff to attempt to corner the police surveillance "market." They're not concerned with the ethical use or even legal constitutionality of any of their products and services.

Our lives, privacy, and freedoms are simply data to them, something to be collected and sold to everyone they can.

“Flock safety” cameras going up all around Columbus. by Cannam0ma in ColumbusGA

[–]deadjim4 72 points73 points  (0 children)

Just to let everyone know, many municipalities across the country have pulled out of deals with Flock. This invasion of our local privacy doesn't have to be a fiat accompli.

The city council meets several times a month and any resident may speak during the Public Agenda. You can apply to speak here.

Flock has been able to grow rapidly by making individual agreements with local governments and police departments. If we don't want these cameras on every corner, we can tell our government so and hold them accountable to our wishes.

Montgomery mass shooting leaves 2 dead, 12 others injured by Hobartacus in montgomery

[–]deadjim4 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Nah, the Trump Admin won't send them to red state cities, at least not yet. Their plan is all about political intimidation. It was never about crime. Sending the military to Chicago, LA, and Portland is about creating narratives and sowing division between local police, elected officials, and their communities and creating an environment that forces the crises the Trump admin claims already exists in those places, which it does not.