In case you haven’t heard, hundreds of Scarsdalians are in an uproar. The reason? Village authorities have signed a contract with Flock Safety, a company that installs comprehensive surveillance systems. Next month, Flock will put up far more cameras and license plate scanners in our town. There will also be a “drone as first responder” program, meaning that drones will be flown to the sites of emergencies, probably even before first responders arrive.

Although I have temporarily suspended publication of the Insider due to a medical issue, these goings-on merit coverage. This edition of the Insider features “Get the Flock Out,” a report on the Board of Trustees meeting on June 10, during which residents were invited to share their thoughts on the new Flock partnership. The Insider tried to make the story as objective as possible despite its publisher’s bandwidth restraints. But make no mistake, the Insider (meaning me) aligns with what the majority of Scarsdalians said on that evening: Flock is a bad, and dangerous, plan.

There are almost too many reasons to list. Here are just three:

• Flock cameras may inhibit townspeople from assembling peacefully, a right enshrined in the First Amendment of the Constitution. Would you rush to join a protest or rally in, say, Chase Park if you knew that your face (and possibly your license plate) were being recorded? Even if the data were only kept for 30 days as per the current plan, this footage could be subpeonaed by the government, at a time when people’s rights are being encroached upon.

• Violent crime in Scarsdale is virtually nonexistent. There was exactly one assault in our town last year, and the only two murders in Scarsdale proper that this editor can recall in 51 years of living in Edgemont or Scarsdale were in private homes. Not even Flock’s prying eyes could have rescued those victims.

• In 2024, nearly 40% of all crimes in Scarsdale were identity theft and fraud—misdeeds against which Flock is basically useless.

Flock has run into legal issues elsewhere. For instance, The Institute for Justice, a nonprofit public interest law firm, recently filed a lawsuit against the city of Norfolk, VA, on behalf of two residents. They contend that Flock’s license plate readers interfere with the Fourth Amendment, the right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects,against unreasonable searches and seizures. In another instance, a media firm called Cardinal News won the right to see Flock footage taken in Roanoke, VA. Would you like a news firm to know your movements? And that’s just the start.

There is one more thing the Insider would like to add. Many in town have criticized Village authorities for signing on with Flock without adequate notice to residents. In an FAQ the Village created in response to the resulting outrage, one particular statement stood out to the Insider:. “Independent of this public safety technology issue, we have been discussing ways to improve community engagement and communication, particularly in light of the absence of a weekly newspaper. The Scarsdale Inquirer historically played a significant role in informing and connecting our community, and its absence is felt.”

And yet, three newspapers currently exist that cover Scarsdale exclusively: the Insider and two competitors. In its attempt to deflect blame, Village authorities turned a blind eye towards the multiple media options available to them.

If, like me, you value your right to privacy and cherish Scarsdale’s cozy freedoms, take action. Sign this petition demanding that the Village hold further meetings before implementing the Flock system. Speak to your friends and neighbors about your trepidations, and send a letter to the Village at PublicComments@Scarsdale.gov. And attend tonight’s Town Hall meeting—you can comment in person or virtually (click here to access the Zoom link).

Act as though your quality of life depends on it.

Yours in Scarsdale love,

Deborah Skolnik
Editor In

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