Buried in #13: Scottsdale Strips Legislative Agenda Language on ALPR, Photo Radar, and AI for Mass Surveillance
"I will be damned if I leave this earth not fighting for more liberty," says public speaker.
Any experienced journalist will tell you: the biggest stories rarely show up in bold print. They’re buried in government meeting consent agendas — the place where “routine” items are packed together, jointly approved, and almost never debated.
Last week, while reviewing consent agendas across Arizona, I noticed that Scottsdale’s 2026 Legislative Agenda quietly doubled down on emerging surveillance technology — not by questioning the tools, but by formally endorsing their “transparent and responsible” use, from license plate readers and photo radar to a growing range of AI-driven public-safety systems.
Consent Agenda Item #13 appeared routine. But the attachments told a different story: they outlined the early framework for a potential referendum—one that could extend Scottsdale’s influence far beyond city limits and help shape statewide policy decisions in 2026.
Scottsdale Meeting Recap: November 17, 2025
Scottsdale Mayor Lisa Borowsky pulled Consent Agenda Item #13 for public discussion.
“I’ve received a tremendous amount of correspondence, email traffic, on the Flock license plates,” opens Mayor Lisa Borowsky. “So I want to understand what it is, where we’re at in this process.”
You can view the entire meeting here.
Here are edited highlights from the November 17, 2025 meeting regarding Consent Agenda Item #13 and the 2026 Legislative Agenda.
Scottsdale Government Relations Specialist Sara Sparman explains that the 2026 Legislative Agenda supports advancing public-safety and criminal-justice initiatives aimed at protecting residents from crime.
City Manager Greg Caton suggested holding a future workshop to discuss how the city uses these technologies, a recommendation Mayor Borowsky supported. Referring to Item #13, Caton added, “This sets the Legislative Agenda moving forward at the state level to defend such things.”
Mayor Borowsky asked whether a specific bill regarding license plate readers is expected in the upcoming legislative session. Sparman replied that she anticipates one, although she has not yet seen it. She noted that overarching policy continues to emphasize local control — the same argument raised at the Legislature in 2025 by cities such as Paradise Valley, Chandler, Mesa, and Scottsdale, which have sought to maintain authority over their use of photo-radar systems rather than cede that decision to the state.
“These policy statements… have a more specific impact on potential legislation that could be coming down the pipeline. Issues we know are being discussed.”
“Knowing that we do utilize our Real Time (Crime Center), we want to be responsible and transparent is what we’re encouraging our policymakers to do.”
Sara Sparman | November 17, 2025
Public Speakers
Eric Fowler, Maricopa County Libertarian Party Chair:
Fowler addressed Scottsdale’s Flock system, its AI capabilities, and the broader mass-surveillance network, saying it was “a system this council never voted on, never held a hearing about, and apparently never knew existed.” Fowler added that after reviewing three years of public records, he found “not a single mention of Flock or license plate readers in agendas or minutes.”
“I’m not asking this council to debate whether surveillance is useful, I’m demanding that you terminate this contract immediately,” Fowler stated.
Vincent La, Scottsdale Resident
“There are some pretty serious Fourth Amendment considerations,” La said. “I’m going to use my experience as a software engineer and go into some of the cybersecurity risks that Flock cameras pose.”
La addressed the common argument about voluntarily giving up privacy versus mass-surveillance systems like Flock, noting that federal protections exist when people provide information to government agencies such as the DMV. “People cannot use your license plate to look up where you live. And this was the result of Congressional action.”
La also cited HIPAA as an example of federal privacy safeguards that impose serious penalties for failing to protect personal medical information. “The problem with Flock is that this AI stuff has come really really fast and Congress doesn’t act really really fast. So I think this has created a huge gap in state laws and federal laws.”
Merissa Hamilton, Co-Found of EZAZ.org
Merissa Hamilton told the Scottsdale City Council she had significant concerns and believed the city’s Legislative Agenda was misguided. “I think that instead of saying that to promote the responsible and transparent use of these license plate readers and photo radar, that that’s kind of an oxymoron,” she said. “There is no way to have responsible or transparent use of these devices. I agree with the previous speakers that this software should be gone.”
Hamilton urged the council to further discuss the emerging technologies, noting, “Because there isn’t a record of the council voting on it. I know it’s a problem that you guys have inherited. I would encourage that the only activity that your lobbyists do on this at the legislature is drive to have these devices be eliminated.”
She argued the devices violate constitutional principles and fall outside what the Founders intended. “They come from the World Economic Forum,” she said, adding that she will continue to oppose them because, “We deserve to have freedom in this country. That’s what our Founders fought for. And I will be damned if I leave this earth not fighting for more liberty than what I came to this planet with.”
Call for Policy Debate: Councilmember Graham offers an Amendment
“The Legislative Agenda is not supposed to be controversial,” Councilmember Barry Graham said as he opened his remarks. He recommended keeping the phrase “Promote the responsible and transparent use of technology” while removing the specific references to license plate readers, photo radar, and AI.
City Manager Greg Caton made a strong argument for keeping the wording as written. “I would submit that we have a police department that is on the cutting edge of that,” he said, adding that even a small group of opponents could have an outsized impact at the Legislature, “fighting for the utilization of this technology that we are using today.” Caton noted that critics likely didn’t find references to the systems in records searches because “it’s operational.”
“This allows us to fight for the City of Scottsdale’s rights at the local level,” Caton argued. “And someday, you could choose to not implement that here at the local level and not be preempted.”
Interim City Attorney Luis Santaella explained that the Legislative Agenda provides the authority for staff who are registered lobbyists “to take a position on legislation. That’s how we know what our position is based on your blessing through this document,” he said, underscoring why the wording needs to remain in the agenda.
Councilmember Barry Graham called for a policy debate on emerging technologies - and water, which was also listed in the Legislative Agenda - noting his concern about how the language could be used later.
“But what I don’t want to happen is we sneak it into a Legislative Agenda — and then we come back and we say, ‘It’s already in the Legislative Agenda you voted for. It’s already there. You voted for this. So you’re contradicting your own Legislative Agenda you told the Legislature.’”
Scottsdale Councilmember Barry Graham | November 17, 2025
The council ultimately voted 5–2 to approve Councilmember Barry Graham’s amendment to the 2026 Legislative Agenda, which struck the dependent clause related to emerging technologies.
Transparency in Policing: FOIA Logs Referenced in Scottsdale/Flock Video
Transparency is presented as central in a November 7, 2025 Flock Safety social media post featuring the Scottsdale Police Department, which emphasizes its policies and public accessibility.
“Everything we do with DFR is driven by very strong policy.”
“A log gets filled out. And all available by Freedom of Information Act. We want everything we’re doing to be completely transparent to our community.”
In the video, law enforcement representatives say the department has “soared” in its embrace of new technology — crediting much of that progress to its partnership with Flock Safety, which they describe as a major “force multiplier.”
“As part of our community, we are united in purpose, selfless in action, to ensure a safe Scottsdale.”
They add that by layering multiple technologies, “the criminal element pays attention.”
“I want you to know we’re leveraging Flock to come into our city. With nefarious intent, we’re gonna catch you.”
If Scottsdale Does It…
Why does it matter if Scottsdale does it?
You see, the driving force behind Arizona’s rapid adoption of license plate reader technology has repeatedly been the idea that everyone else is doing it. When Scottsdale takes a step in this direction, it sends a signal that smaller cities and towns can—and perhaps should—do the same.
Like this:
It appears Scottsdale is now competing for the leadership position Glendale once led.
Glendale reportedly pioneered Arizona’s early police-tech buildout, with a Real-Time Crime Center [RTCC] and Scottsdale has been expanding along the same trajectory ever since.
The critical role of community partnerships and leadership buy-in: Glendale to Scottsdale and Beyond
Scottsdale’s robust Real-Time Crime Center is highlighted by Flock: “…a revolution in public safety is unfolding — one driven by real-time intelligence, community partnerships, and a visionary approach to policing.”
In this YouTube conversation from August 13, 2025, Chris Henningsen, Real-Time Crime Center (RTCC) Manager for the Scottsdale Police Department, talks through the evolution of real-time policing, the formation of a national association of RTCCs, and where law-enforcement technology is headed next.
When asked how Scottsdale pioneered a Real-Time Crime Center during the pandemic, Henningsen described a slow, deliberate process driven by internal approval and departmental support.
“We submitted a proposal to go through the department. It took a few years to get through that. To get buy-in. The problem is that it is very new on the west side of the United States.”
He noted that Glendale, Arizona was the first city in the region to deploy a Real-Time Crime Center. And once the system was in place, interest exploded. “They were inundated with tours. They still are inundated with tours. The tours will just never go away.”
Henningsen — who reportedly serves as President of the National Real Time Crime Center Association and helped launch Scottsdale’s RTCC in 2021 — said the demand for access hasn’t slowed. Agencies across the country also visit Scottsdale to study how the technology works in practice.
“It’s really important, though, for an agency to do tours to see different types of technology, how they set up staff, and how they set up — how operations works. Very important. For us, we’re a very blessed, last year, to have well over 250 agencies see our center just in one year.”
Henningsen tells the Flock hosts that prior to the establishment of the National Real Time Crime Center Association in 2018, training was operated by vendors. “And that could be one way or the other way. Not necessarily the wrong way. But, it’s just not - you’re not able to see how other agencies apply the technology.”
Henningsen encourages relationship building among partners through real-time crime center tours and time spent learning from each other.
“Then we have homeowners associations that have also purchased Flock Safety license plate reader (LPR) cameras, plus cameras in churches, malls and schools, among others. So, when we need to check into a new incident scene to advise responding officers what is happening there, we have the coverage and the RTCC infrastructure to accurately advise them what is happening there and what to expect when they arrive, in real-time,” reportedly stated by SPD RTCC Supervisor Chris Henningsen.
Police1.com Report | January 16, 2024
Mixed Messages: Arizona Lawmakers Back Some Surveillance Tools While Rejecting Others
As I dug deeper into Arizona’s surveillance landscape last year, it became obvious that opinions on these mass surveillance systems split sharply — not just between privacy advocates and police, but even among lawmakers who oppose one form of enforcement while championing another.
This expansion of surveillance sparks strong opinions. Senator Mark Finchem (R-LD1), speaking on the Eye on Prescott podcast released on November 14, 2025 — where I was also a guest — said government must find the right balance on license plate readers.
Sen. Finchem defended Flock cameras as legitimate public-roadway surveillance but said he “hates” speed and red-light cameras, calling them “cash registers” and criticizing their use as revenue generators — pointing to Scottsdale as an example. It’s a view shared by Sen. Wendy Rogers, who last session sponsored two bills: one to ban photo radar outright and another to send the issue to voters. Neither crossed the finish line.
For some, their distinction is difficult to square. Both photo-radar enforcement cameras and ALPR systems like Flock use automated imaging to read license plates, both are managed by third-party companies, and both come with multi-million-dollar public contracts…with the cost absorbed by taxpayers, even though most residents never get a direct say in whether these systems come to their communities.
QUESTIONS FOR SCOTTSDALE MAYOR LISA BOROWSKY
To better understand how Scottsdale’s legislative priorities intersect with this expanding surveillance network, I contacted Mayor Lisa Borowsky’s office Tuesday, November 11th, with questions about the city’s 2026 Legislative Agenda in support of AI-powered license plate readers and related technology.
I was assured on Friday that I would receive responses by Monday. Monday passed without any reply.
By late last Friday, a Special Meeting agenda dropped outlining a Memorandum of Understanding between Scottsdale and Axon Enterprise, Inc.—the centerpiece issue dominating Monday night’s council session. The MOU included terms for Axon’s international headquarters campus, including access to a Real-Time Crime Center.
The council ultimately approved the compromise in a 3–3 vote, with Mayor Lisa Borowsky breaking the tie, allowing Axon to proceed with plans for 600 apartments and 600 condos across two phases.
The six-and-a-half-hour meeting can be viewed here.
Today, I received this press release from Mayor Borowsky’s office.
I have reached out again to Mayor Borowsky’s office for a comment regarding the city’s 2026 Legislative Agenda and AI policing technology.
AI-Driven Mass Surveillance Updates Around the United States
Discussion surrounding tracking technology is a hot topic in several states outside Arizona. Here’s what’s new.
In San Jose, California, the Electronic Frontier Foundation and the American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California reportedly filed a lawsuit today - on November 18, 2025 - challenging the city’s use of nearly 500 automated license plate readers (ALPRs) that collect and store drivers’ location data without warrants — arguing the program violates the state constitution.
“The San Jose Police Department has blanketed the city’s roadways with nearly 500 ALPRs – indiscriminately collecting millions of records per month about people’s movements – and keeps this data for an entire year. Then the department permits its officers and other law enforcement officials from across the state to search this ALPR database to instantly reconstruct people’s locations over time – without first getting a warrant. This is an unchecked police power to scrutinize the movements of San Jose’s residents and visitors as they lawfully travel to work, to the doctor, or to a protest.”
Electronic Frontier Foundation | November 18, 2025
On October 16, 2025, U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Oregon) sent this formal letter to Flock Safety warning that the company misled the public about federal access to its ALPR system, revealed pilot programs with DHS agencies, and urged local governments to remove Flock cameras from their communities.
It’s reported here that Senator Ron Wyden and Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi have requested the FTC to investigate Flock Safety’s cybersecurity practices.
Jen’s Two Cents.
Scottsdale’s Consent Agenda Item #13 sparked deeper discussion this past week — especially last night.
I have offered Flock Safety an opportunity to interview on multiple occasions and the company has declined as recently as today.
Regardless of where you stand on surveillance and location tracking in Arizona, one thing is clear: this conversation is far from over.
Let’s keep the conversation going.
More to come as I report on how Arizona cities are writing surveillance technology into their long-term plans — and who, if anyone, is prepared to take a stance at the Capitol in 2026.
BONUS CONTENT
For those who follow my reporting, you know I strive to include context wherever it’s relevant. When I uncover information that adds depth or background, I make it available.
Below is additional material I found that may be helpful.
6,000 Cameras and A Plan
Scottsdale has become a destination city where people from around the world come to experience its blend of luxury, culture, and desert beauty. Each year, the city hosts some of the nation’s most high-profile events — from the WM Phoenix Open and Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Auction to Scottsdale Fashion Week, and major equestrian competitions — all supported by a thriving arts scene and world-renowned galleries.
With its global draw and nonstop tourism calendar, Scottsdale rivals much larger cities in visibility and economic impact. And with that level of attention and activity comes a heightened responsibility to keep residents and visitors safe, both in the city’s busiest moments and in everyday life.
Scottsdale operates under a dual surveillance system: automated cameras that catch speeders and red-light runners and AI-driven mass-scanning license plate readers, such as Flock Safety cameras.
It’s a showcase city for Flock Safety. And according to a Flock Safety case study titled “Revolutionizing Response: Flock Safety’s Impact in Scottsdale, Arizona,” Scottsdale is cited as a model for the future—where police can “virtually arrive” at unfolding scenes and coordinate in real time with regional agencies.
In this August 2025 Flock Safety YouTube interview, Chris Henningsen, Supervisor of the Scottsdale Police Department’s Real-Time Crime Center, said the city is prioritizing regional collaboration. This summer he says Scottsdale was connected with 12 other Real-Time Crime Centers — a network he predicted would grow to nearly 20 law enforcement agencies by the end of the year.
“License plate readers in our city are deployed in areas that are entry points into our city,” explains Chris Henningsen, Supervisor of the Scottsdale PD’s Real Time Crime Center (RTCC).
“If we set up license plate readers that are outbound to our city, that means we’re going into somebody else’s jurisdiction and we’re gonna cause a lot of friction in that jurisdiction with our resources. And we typically won’t do that.”
Flock Safety YouTube | August 13, 2025
Henningsen clarifies all the cameras Scottsdale has access to, the Real-Time Crime Center doesn’t own any of them. “We don’t install them, we just have access to them.”
“We have over 6,000 of them that come into our center. And how we access them is a little different for all of them. But it’s definitely through the partnerships that we have within the city, as well as through the community.”
Flock Safety YouTube | August 13, 2025
The Scottsdale real-time crime center is reactive and based on calls for service, providing real-time data to responding officers and police employees.
Henningsen says he sees a real-time crime center in every law enforcement agency across the country with partnering resources to cover those areas without one.
“We have every technology partner here. So we’re really trying to figure out how do we share our data.”
Do Scottsdale residents know about the 6,000 cameras?
On the topic of transparency, Henningsen says, “We are transparent on what we do, how we do it.”
“We have 25 community partners. Of the community partners, every one of them have come through our center. All of our elected officials have come through our center. All of our city management have come through our center. I would say a good majority of our police department have come through our center. We want that transparency. We want folks to feel they can come in. And the community partners, once they come in our center, once they leave our center, they’re like, ‘Okay, where do we need to sign? We want this partnership to go up and running.’ Cause, I think, if you really look at perception, I think they perceive a real-time center to be whatever’s on the news. Whatever’s on the movies. Whatever’s a tv show. And once they come in, they’re like, ‘Oh, you don’t do any of that.’’“
Responsibility in AI and Digital Technology
Scottsdale is a two-time awarding-winning city for its digital technology.
Scottsdale City Charter Link
In November 2024, Scottsdale “took the top spot in the Center for Digital Government’s annual Digital Cities Survey, ranking No. 1 among cities with populations between 125,000 and 249,999.”
“This national survey recognizes cities that excel at leveraging technology to enhance citizen services, privacy rights, transparency, cybersecurity and more.”
According to the city, the Center for Digital Government said Scottsdale retained the top spot because of its digital transformation leadership and several recent achievements including investment in public safety with the city’s new real-time crime center. The purpose of this document on the city’s website is an, “Administrative Regulation (AR) is to safeguard the public’s trust in the City’s use of new and emerging technologies and to protect their digital privacy rights.”
Flock Responses
My interview and statement requests to Flock have been denied, but I’ve included the public remarks they’ve made in Arizona to accurately and fairly reflect their stated position.
Verra Mobility Testimony
The speed-camera company Verra Mobility testified at the state legislature this year. View the testimony here.