What the FLOCK?
Here's what's happening in Goodyear that has us asking... what's going on??
FBI AND FLOCK AROUND GOODYEAR
Out and about looking for a new plant and fresh soil, I stopped at Lowe’s on McDowell north of I-10 in Goodyear today. Low and behold. There it was. I believe, a Flock!
Just three days ago, Daily Independent reporter Michael McDaniel wrote about Flock. Goodyear City Council apparently first learned about the big brother tracking system during a budget review meeting.
VIDEO: Goodyear Police discuss Flock at the 3:08:22 mark.
Flock is tied to the FBI and part of Goodyear’s new “Real Time Crime Center.”
The ACLU states, “the surveillance company Flock Safety is blanketing American cities with dangerously powerful and unregulated automatic license plate recognition (ALPR) cameras. While license plate readers have been around for some time, Flock is the first to create a nationwide mass-surveillance system out of its customers’ cameras.”
*Note: I’m all for crime fighting. My history shows I’m huge advocate of Goodyear Police. But this Flock system is not without flaws, and it raises lots of privacy concerns. Check this out…
In 2022, a car set off an automated license plate reader system alarm in Litchfield Park. The camera system, told police the vehicle was stolen. An officer pulled over the driver for a stolen vehicle alert, but the Flock AI made a mistake.
“The Flock camera read the plate wrong as AZ:074A45G when the plate actually read AZ:D74A5G,” wrote the officer, in the Litchfield report.
Source: Daily Independent
City Manager Wynette Reed says Goodyear City Council gave direction during a January retreat to pursue surveillance cameras.
Goodyear purchased 16 Flock cameras with 25 more on the way! Three cameras are installed. And it sounds like the city is still trying to figure out the legalities about what the cameras can record.
30 DAYS?!?
When a vehicle passes a Flock camera a photo and video is taken. AI technology pulls the license plate number and categorizes the vehicle characteristics. If you are not suspected of a crime, your information is logged and can be searched before being deleted after 30 days. If you are on a police “hot list” then the location data is pushed to law enforcement immediately for a response. -The Secure Dad
How did the city choose Lowe’s for a surveillance camera?? How are future locations chosen? Do the surrounding businesses give approval before installation? So many questions.
The other locations are not public knowledge, according to my source.
If you listen to the discussion on this, sounds like council members have no clue how the system works given the questions they were asking during the work session. So we gotta ask, what’s going on in Goodyear?!?!
GOODYEAR POST OFFICE - DIRT PARKING
Goodyear’s post office is like the little train that could. Now that parking is restricted on the south side of the property, consumers are having to park in the dirt lot on the north side because the already-congested lot offers little space to handle overflow.
Video: March 21, 2024 | GOODYEAR, AZ POST OFFICE | DIRT PARKING
In January 2023, I asked Goodyear to partner with the USPS to enhance this postal location. (In that same meeting, I requested the City add passport services and adjust the business license fees to be proportionate to the size of businesses based on number of employees. All three requests went unanswered.)
City of Goodyear tells me no citations have been issued for parking at the Goodyear post office since parking has been restricted on the south side of the property.
In looking for additional info, something fun… I found these historical documents about the Goodyear Post Office in government archives here.
The U.S. Postal System was established in 1775. The first postmaster was Benjamin Franklin.
Above is a document showing a proposed establishment of a post office in Goodyear, Arizona - from January 1919.
At the time, the nearest post office was in Chandler - and the document says, “Chandler is the nearest post office. But Goodyear is not on any delivery route.” Unincorporated Goodyear had a population of approximately 2000 people with a minimum 607 families.
On August 15, 1944, this document shows the village would be supplied with mail, and a handwritten diagram shows surrounding post offices with railways, roads, rivers, and creeks included in the drawing.
On August 21, 1944, Applicant Marie A. Jenner files the above form with the Post Office Department in Washington.
GENERAL PLAN SUPPORT
This one is irritating, at best. The City of Goodyear formed a committee to draft the 2035 General Plan. It goes to voters May 21st.
In looking at the informational packet that arrived in the mail, the measure doesn’t have an argument for or against the proposal! Not one.
I know that the local school district will reach out to local leaders asking for pro statements for its override and bond elections. But what happened here?
The staff member who led the committee left Goodyear for another job out-of-state in January, (huge loss for Goodyear, in my opinion). I know as a committee member, I haven’t received any further communications about the General Plan election. That being said, be sure to vote! Lots of good things in the plan. You can review it here.
MORE WAREHOUSES NEAR HOMES??
Interesting development in Goodyear. On Wednesday, April 17, 2024, Goodyear's Planning and Zoning Commission will consider a request for a Minor General Plan Amendment which changes 53.24 acres of property generally located one half mile west of Cotton Lane on the south side of Camelback Road from the Neighborhoods Land Use designation to the *Business and Commerce* Land Use designation.
In background notes by the City of Goodyear staff, "The zoning for the Property is Agricultural Urban (AU), as was adopted via Ordinance No. 2018-1395 as part of a residential development known as Abel Ranch and was intended to provide a buffer between the higher density residential adjacent to the western boundary of the Property and the industrial zoned property adjacent to the eastern boundary of the Property."
Meritage Homes of Arizona, Inc. and Tri Pointe Homes Arizona 91, LLC have filed a formal letter of opposition to Goodyear City Staff, Planning and Zoning Commission, and Council stating, "The “Business Park” designation will likewise significantly increase the volume of commercial and passenger vehicle traffic in the area, as well as create noise and lighting nuisances directly adjacent to the Abel Ranch residential community."
Documents show NBA Enterprises LP/Hohokam Acres LP (“NBA”) are requesting the change to both the land use and zoning designation. The opposition letter also states, "NBA seeks your permission to allow a business park district directly to the east of Abel Ranch, a single-family residential community that will likely be home to thousands of Goodyear residents."
NBA's proposal shows, "The proposed development consists of five high-quality business buildings." The company summarizes, "A business park development such as NBA’s proposed development is an ideal use of this vacant and underutilized property and is compatible with the surrounding area. Such development will conform to the City’s General Plan Goals and Policies and further the City’s objectives for Physical Growth and Economic Development. The proposed rezoning to BPD will facilitate the development of this vacant Site for a high-quality business park development that will enhance the surrounding area and add a viable, sustainable use to this area."
Read the Opposition Letter Here
View the City of Goodyear Planning an Zoning Agenda Here.
The Planning and Zoning meeting is 6pm Wednesday, April 17, 2024.
Planning & Zoning Commission
Goodyear City Hall - Council Chambers
1900 N. Civic Square, Goodyear, AZ 85395
JEN’S TWO CENTS
As the City of Goodyear continues to grow, it’s important to pay attention to who’s making the decisions and what kind of city we want moving forward.
The next Candidate Election is July 30, 2024. You can start your own research here. I will begin inviting candidates for podcast interviews as we get closer to the election.
One quick thing before I go… the weather is beautiful right now! All of my plants are thriving… lots of new leaves. Spring is in the air… and summer is just around the corner! Get out and enjoy the West Valley!
