New government administrations are often assessed at the 100-day mark to determine their early performance and new priorities. Our village board has been in office just short of that and already given some indication as to how they will create policy. Their early steps are concerning at best.
Amid concerns related to data-sharing with immigration officials, the current board considered two simultaneous motions regarding the alternative license plate recognition (ALPR) contract with Flock Group Inc. The first motion, brought forward by newly-elected Trustee Jenna Leving Jacobson, called for the removal of Oak Park’s ALPRs and early termination of the contract. The second motion by veteran Trustee Jim Taglia proposed an immediate pause on ALPR usage and a plan to work with our police chief to discuss additional controls and alternatives to balance data privacy concerns with the department’s need for modern investigative tools.
The village’s ALPR contract began in 2022 with eight cameras deployed to analyze license-plate images and identify vehicles of interest in police investigations. ALPRs are widely used throughout the country and all of our community neighbors utilize one or more ALPR systems. Since their installation, Oak Park’s cameras have aided in the recovery of illegal firearms, carried out arrest warrants and located stolen vehicles.
Despite this, Leving Jacobson insisted on canceling the contract on the basis that even if the police department paused its use of ALPRs, the cameras could not be deactivated and would continue to collect data. This was proven to be completely false. In the meeting, village staff and a company representative confirmed the cameras could be deactivated. Yet Leving Jacobson refused to change her position.
Facts should not be manipulated to fit a narrative.
The board missed an opportunity to focus on concerns related to data collection and data mining, resisting draconian deportation efforts, and creating village ordinances to support vulnerable populations, such as a cashless business ordinance so that electronic forms of payment, which can also be tracked, are not required to buy something as basic as groceries.
This rudderless decision-making failed to provide clear guidance to staff around technology in policing and missed a broader discussion around immigration support. Failing to do this is a failure in leadership.
Instead, we need leaders who can work with village staff and other experts to develop policy that protects all of us. We need leaders who seek accurate information to inform their perspectives. We need leaders who are brave enough to uphold Oak Park’s values, even if it means doing the extra work to create sound policies, not ideological sound bites.
Lucia Robinson
Former Oak Park village trustee