Should We Install Surveillance on W. Blithedale?

Sep 23

Should we install surveillance cameras on W. Blithedale?

Mill Valley already uses Flock license plate cameras at its main entry points. Now people are asking whether W. Blithedale should get them too. Here’s what we know so far, and why we want to hear from you.

Your input will help inform the conversation.

What these cameras do

Flock cameras are automatic license plate readers. They photograph every passing car and log its plate, time and location, so police can search for stolen or wanted vehicles. They record every car that drives by, not only cars linked to a crime.

3
Entry and exit points in Mill Valley already have Flock cameras.
72 hrs
How long the city now keeps the data, down from 7 days.
CA only
The city says it opted out of national and statewide lookups and doesn’t share with immigration authorities.
No AI
The city says it doesn’t use facial recognition or AI with these cameras.

Figures as reported by the city to the council in February 2026.

How we got here

February 2025
Mill Valley adopts Flock cameras, the last town along the North Bay’s Highway 101 corridor to do so.
February 2026
After residents raise privacy concerns, the council hears an update. Data retention is cut to 72 hours and national and statewide lookups are turned off.
Now
The question on the table: should cameras go up on W. Blithedale?

What people are saying

Supporters say

They help track stolen cars and burglary suspects, and police call them a “powerful tool.”
They can help in missing-person cases and emergencies.
Plate hits have flagged vehicles carrying weapons.
The city reports no known data breaches and runs regular audits.

Critics worry

It’s mass surveillance that records everyone, not just suspects.
Data could end up with immigration enforcement.
Settings can fail. A Mountain View audit found its Flock system was open to national lookups against local policy.
Vendor contracts give residents too little say over the data.

Questions to weigh

What problem would cameras on W. Blithedale solve, and is there data showing it?
Who can see the footage, and who checks that the rules are followed?
How would it affect students, workers and visitors who pass through every day?
What would it cost, and what else could that money do?