Binghamton City Council urges mayor to end Flock camera contract

7 August 2026. [AI first draft. Verify every fact against the source before publishing.]

Binghamton City Council passed a resolution on August 6, 2026, calling on Mayor Jared Kraham to terminate the city's contracts with Flock Safety, which provides automated license plate reader cameras to law enforcement. The council did not vote to unilaterally cancel the contract but instead urged the mayor to take that action, leaving the final decision to the executive branch.

Council members cited multiple concerns about the cameras, including data sharing practices among agencies, potential misuse, and warrantless surveillance of residents. City Council President Michael Dundon stated that the current contract terms do not serve constituents' interests and that public safety and constitutional rights need not conflict. City Council Majority Leader Rebecca Rathmell noted that over 80 municipalities across 28 states have terminated Flock contracts in the previous five years, citing reasons including privacy infringement, unauthorized access by immigration authorities, and discrimination patterns.

The resolution acknowledged that ALPR cameras can serve legitimate public safety purposes. Notably, Flock cameras had recently helped identify a stolen vehicle in Binghamton, leading to one arrest and helping police locate two missing teenagers, demonstrating the technology's potential crime-solving applications.

Residents can monitor the mayor's response to this council resolution and track any formal termination or contract renewal decisions through municipal records requests and city council agendas. Checking comparable municipalities' ALPR contract timelines and renewal dates may reveal patterns in how jurisdictions evaluate continuation of similar surveillance programs.

Read the original reporting: wbng.com.