Flock cameras are back on the Issaquah council agenda. Here's the vote and how to weigh in before May 11.
TL;DR: The city administration quietly pulled Flock cameras off the council agenda with no new date. Monday night, after weeks of public pressure, the council voted 5 to 2 to put it back on. First public discussion is Monday, May 11 at City Hall South. If you care about mass surveillance on Issaquah streets, this is the meeting to show up to.
What happened
From the transcript ( watch here: https://youtu.be/xASoUegYZVM?t=9696 ), Issaquah police applied for a $452K federal earmark in 2025. The Flock piece was scheduled to be discussed on May 19, then pulled to "TBD 2026" with no replacement date. Monday's 5-2 vote forces it back onto the May 11 Committee of the Whole agenda, over the administration's objection.
How each councilmember voted and what they said
| Pos | Councilmember | Vote | In their own words |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kelly Jiang (Deputy President) | YES | "Committee of the whole is not about making a specific decision... we can have a better conversation if we actually understand what the grant entails." |
| 2 | Paul Adair | YES | "My opinion on that decision has changed due to the public outcry... [the delay] has created a sense of distrust with this government." |
| 3 | Erika Boyd | YES | "I think the community would benefit from us discussing it with what we have... for now, let's start this conversation." |
| 4 | Lindsey Walsh | YES | "The motion does not take a position on the substance... it simply ensures that the discussion happens in a public transparent setting." |
| 5 | Russell Joe | NO | Quoted former mayor Butler: "If you want it bad, you get it bad." Also: "If we bring it in too early, there's just too much speculation that can go on." |
| 6 | Kevin Nichols | YES | "I'm against [Flock cameras]." Cited ESSB 6002's own sponsor saying she'd be "very uncomfortable" with local cameras. |
| 7 | Tola Marts (Council President) | NO | "I don't know if I support using ALPRs. I don't know where I sit in that spectrum." |
Contact your council
Contact your council
Shared inbox: citycouncil@issaquahwa.gov (goes to all 7)
| Name | Voted to bring forward now | Next election | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kelly Jiang | YES | kelly.jiang@issaquahwa.gov | 2029 |
| Paul Adair | YES | paul.adair@issaquahwa.gov | 2027 |
| Erika Boyd | YES | citycouncil@issaquahwa.gov (no email available) | 2027 |
| Lindsey Walsh | YES | lindseyw@issaquahwa.gov | 2027 |
| Russell Joe | NO | russellj@issaquahwa.gov | 2029 |
| Kevin Nichols | YES | kevin.nichols@issaquahwa.gov | 2027 |
| Tola Marts | NO | tolam@issaquahwa.gov | 2029 |
Four of seven seats are up in 2027. Remember who listens and who doesn't.
What to do
- Show up Monday, May 11. City Hall South, 135 E Sunset Way. Public comment sign-up closes at 5pm that day. Sign up before then.
- Email council before the meeting. Pro-Flock, anti-Flock, or somewhere in between. Personal emails in your own words land harder than any form letter.
- Share this post. If your neighbors don't know this is happening, they can't weigh in.
Form letters get ignored. 50 neighbors in the chamber do not.
u/PuzzleheadedMocca — 4 days ago