#mapol

Here is a generic-language version of the email I just sent to #Somerville Council about police #bodycameras for the 12pm deadline. https://sandstorm.appux.com/shared/lGlNKXBAaxeBW0-1FUCMihCp9r-K3h6HryHO2vNa4oa If you are delivering public comment tonight, feel free to adapt ideas in there. It's a complicated issue, and I know that concerns differ. #SomervilleMA #MAPol #surveillance #policing #privacy

From the perspective of those of us trying to provide current information on this issue to the public, it's incredibly frustrating that *after* the Mayor scheduled this Special Meeting (on very short notice), he then proceeded to update the policy that is being discussed at the special meeting, just two business days before the public is supposed to provide comment (and the Council is supposed to vote). #surveillance #policing #MAPol #SomervilleMA #privacy #Somerville

On Friday, the Mayor also released this self-congratulatory video about the body camera policy that he's hoping will be passed on Monday: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DbJLZDzRjl3/ (apologies for the Instagram link) It's important to note that despite the fact that Mayor Wilson mentions #oversight in the same breath as body cameras, no civilian oversight body exists in #Somerville at this time, and creating one will likely take years. #SomervilleMA #MAPol #policing

Some folks from the #Somerville DSA group put together these slides with tips on how to prepare public comment for the Special Meeting on #bodycameras tomorrow. https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1xmdAuHLzOOFhmdxZE3nWoZ7SveOiNW2mstvn7xPvr6Q/edit?usp=sharing #SomervilleMA #surveillance #policing #MAPol

Update: On July 23rd, the Mayor introduced a new version of the STIR and TSSUP for police #bodycameras in #Somerville. The new documents clarify a number of policy points, but don't substantively address the concerns we've highlighted in our toolkit above. #surveillance #policing #MAPol #SomervilleMA #privacy

Last night the #Somerville Legislative Matters Committee decided to hold the #bodycameras proposal in committee rather than voting to approve it. It's not clear what the next steps will be (stay tuned), but for now they are not moving forward on the proposal for body cameras without civilian oversight. Thank you so much to everyone who wrote or called in to council to express concern about the city's proposal! #MAPol #SomervilleMA #surveillance

For anyone interested in a more complete update on the #Somerville #bodycameras deliberations, one of my collaborators put together this document summarizing ways to support our organizing: https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vSLHo6CD3P8L-EGbsr7pqxXf0CaU1A-XhsXV95ES43uPehjHgTpnwEORUTq_H_87V3nw2cEwSTgSMnY/pub #surveillance #SomervilleMA #MAPol #MAPoli

There's another update on #Somerville #BodyCameras posted here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vS6Lvi0cNzhztgzCyB-Ie28CSLJi1xzYOg6mEpNvXN_SJO4Dhyy2F6ZZJk-lBwd3zCissDDkIUXCu86/pub We finally have the memorandum of understanding on body cameras, and unfortunately it still says the data will be controlled by the police, with civilians only able to access the footage through public records requests. #MAPol #SomervilleMA #surveillance

Here is the latest update from the Somerville ad hoc group working on the body cameras issue: https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vRiU1P7QeQoR9Tbx-xr1wzevoa7D5UnRo8kRdEws6CFHLEgDCU7EzDkR60PAv4Rk0FByuZemkjya95c/pub The very short version is that the Mayor is still trying to rush this specific body cameras policy through without proper deliberation and that #Somerville is holding a special meeting on July 27th for public comment *and* a vote. This is *not* the public comment session that was requested by petition. #bodycameras #SomervilleMA #policing #surveillance #privacy #MAPol

We're asking #Somerville residents concerned about the rushed process on body camera policy to attend the special meeting on July 27th to insist on proper deliberation. We have an action toolkit here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vQ8FOlm5fCo7-s3jubaDq79i0hHhamUw-o7DTxcLpo4GaBwuGvBNPiZy-d_RB6gvKmh6fSivtO42CZ7/pub #bodycameras #policing #surveillance #privacy #MAPol #Somerville MA

' In 2023, officials for the City of Boston flagged the busy corridor in Mission Hill for lacking in “bike safety and comfort.” They considered creating safer bicycle connections there to move Boston one step closer to its longstanding goal of eliminating traffic fatalities. A completion date on the project, however, is still “to be determined.” ' https://www.bostonglobe.com/2026/07/10/metro/louisa-gag-cyclist-fatal-crash-tremont-street/ #BikeTooter #FediBike #SafeStreets #MApol #BOSpol #Boston #Massachusetts