City Council - Public Safety Committee

Public Safety Committee Meeting Meeting Minutes: June 2, 2020 Councilor Gomez called the meeting to order at 6:02 Zoom - Online Members Present: Chair Homar Gomez, Councillor Lindsey Rothschild Also in Attendance: Javier Luengo-Garrido,ACLU and Emiliano Falcon, ACLU Approval of Minutes: No minutes to approve Public Speak Time: New Business: Continuing Business: ● Traffic Calming/Pedestrian safety review Councilor Gomez spoke briefly with President Conniff. After the final meeting with Councillor Conniff, bring back to the committee to report and progress forward. ● Ban on Facial Recognition Surveillance Technology Ordinance Councillor Gomez said that all the changes that the City Solicitor recommended were made to the ban. Councillor Rothschild asked Javier and Emiliano what they took away from the process. Emilian Falcon explained clarification/changes: (1) Security cameras can still be used. Footage from those surveillance videos would not be able to be run through facial recognition software. (2) City Council does not approve police department policies and procedures. This violated separation of powers. So 2B was removed. (3) In Somerville ordinance, there was a cause of action. A cause of action was added so that someone subjected to facial recognition technology could seek an injunction of this technology. (4) A1 -They clarified language that evidence from outside of Easthampton that used facial recognition technology can be used.  Councillor Rothschild sought clarification as to how this ban would be undone. Emiliano Falcon stated that 2b was removed and also the name was changed from moratorium to ban. Javier Luengo thanked the council for taking on this important issue. They’ve been focused on moving this forward in the most affirmative and educational way and will be certainly at the full council meeting. Public hearing will be scheduled for July 1st at 6:15. Next regular meeting: July 23, 2020 at 6pm A motion was made by Councilor Rothschild and seconded by Councilor Gomez; it was unanimously voted that this meeting adjourn. Respectfully Submitted, Councilor Lindsey Rothschild Clerk to the Public Safety Committee