Change for Monroe

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Friday, July 17 | 10:00 AM
High Octane Coffee in Monroe

Now, to be clear, we should be in favor of this. Just because Burns' cult is for something doesn't mean we are automatically against it.

The reason this change originally came about was because of the theatrics of Ball and her klan. It started with increased security measures but when her speeches became more vile and full of lies, attacking members of the council, the city decided they didn't want to give her that platform.

And don't get me wrong. Accusing Councilwoman Thompson of being a pe*****le should have drawn a stronger rebuke that what Ball received, for sure. Unfortunately, as a whole, this council will not be fighting back so we shouldn't count on them for anything but bowing down to Burns.

But here at C4M, we believe the best way to defeat Ball in the next election is to show people exactly who she is! Her speeches are great campaign fodder to keep her off of the council.

And the next time the City Council doesn't like that a speaker isn't following the rules...gee...maybe follow your own policy! Don't create new ones that penalize the entire city.

Monroe City Council will meet today at City Hall for two sessions.
📅 Strategic Planning Meeting: 4:30 p.m.
📅 Regular Meeting: 6:00 p.m.

⚠️ Reminder: Typical Council meetings will only be held on one night a month. Council voted June 23 to move public hearings and public comment back to the Regular meeting on the second Tuesday of each month.

📺 You can watch both meetings live on our YouTube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/

📝 Agendas and accompanying staff reports are available prior to each meeting and can be viewed here: tinyurl.com/4kee2ykf

Monroe Police Department
There is enough information out there to know that this "fact" sheet is nothing but propaganda.

Want to read about Flock cameras with sources? Try this...
https://www.changeformonroe.com/post/flock-cameras-why-can-t-we-all-agree

Additionally, with the MPD endorsing this and putting it on Facebook, we can rule them out as objective in this discussion. They are a police force and will not show the restraint they claim these systems have. "Won't be used for" and "Can't be used for" are two completely different phrases. Just because they say they won't use them for 24/7 surveillance doesn't mean that they won't.

And why is "These aren't new, so you shouldn't oppose them" a credible argument? That's an insane posture to take. Especially when you're trying to get another $7.6m worth of surveillance equipment in our city.

Finally, why are the comments turned off on this post? Come on, MPD, what are you scared of?

License Plate Readers (LPRs): Separating Fact from Fiction

License Plate Readers (LPRs) have become a frequent topic of discussion, and we understand that many people have questions about how they work. We believe it's important to provide factual information so our community can make informed decisions based on facts, not misconceptions.

MYTH: "The Monroe Police Department just started using License Plate Readers."
FACT: Monroe Police Department has been using License Plate Reader technology for more than five years. While the technology has received more public attention recently, it is not new to our department. It has quietly helped investigators solve crimes, locate stolen vehicles, identify suspects, and recover missing persons for years.

MYTH: "License Plate Readers track people everywhere they go."
FACT: License Plate Readers capture images of license plates and the exterior of vehicles traveling on public roadways. They are designed to identify vehicles associated with crimes or investigations, not to track law-abiding citizens.
A license plate is displayed in public by law and does not carry a reasonable expectation of privacy. Officers have always been able to read and record license plates while on patrol. LPRs simply automate a task that has always existed.

MYTH: "The cameras identify who is inside the vehicle."
FACT: They do not.
LPR cameras are designed to capture:
•License plate numbers
•Vehicle make, model, and color
•Date, time, and location of the scan
They do not automatically identify drivers or passengers, collect biometric information, or use facial recognition technology.

MYTH: "Only government uses this technology."
FACT: License Plate Reader technology is widely used outside of law enforcement.
Many organizations use similar systems every day, including:
•Neighborhoods and Homeowners Associations (HOAs)
•Apartment complexes
•Shopping centers
•Businesses
•Private security companies
•Parking facilities
These systems help monitor vehicle traffic, investigate thefts, and improve security.

MYTH: "I'm constantly being watched because of License Plate Readers."
FACT: Most people are already recorded dozens of times every day as they go about their normal routine.
Studies estimate the average American is captured on camera 34 to more than 75 times every day, often without realizing it.
Examples include:
•Driving: Approximately 23 times per day by traffic cameras, toll systems, and roadway monitoring equipment.
•Shopping: Around 3 times per day by store security cameras.
•Neighborhoods: Roughly 2 times per day by residential security and doorbell cameras but likely much more frequent than known.
•Workplaces: The average employee is recorded about 8 times each workday, with even more frequent recording in retail and security environments.
Most people believe they are recorded fewer than ten times a day, but the reality is that cameras have become a normal part of modern life.

MYTH: "License Plate Readers are used to issue traffic tickets."
FACT: Monroe Police Department uses LPR technology as an investigative tool to help identify stolen vehicles, wanted persons, missing persons, and vehicles connected to criminal investigations.

WHY DOES MONROE POLICE USE LPRs?
License Plate Readers have helped law enforcement:
•Recover stolen vehicles
•Locate wanted offenders
•Find missing and endangered persons
•Identify vehicles involved in violent crimes
•Develop investigative leads more quickly
•Improve officer safety by alerting officers to vehicles associated with serious criminal activity

Our Commitment:

Technology should always be used responsibly.

Monroe Police Department remains committed to using License Plate Readers in a manner that is lawful, transparent, and focused on protecting our community. Like any investigative tool, LPRs are intended to help solve crimes, protect victims, and improve public safety. They are not to monitor the daily activities of law-abiding citizens.

Public safety and individual rights can, and should, coexist. Our goal is to ensure both.

Y'all!!!

We are dying over here! 🤣🤣🤣🤣

I hope the person running this keeps going through the election! I'm sure the dog will have a lot to say.
🤣🤣🤣🤣

https://www.facebook.com/share/1EFTpjxWK4/

David Dotson's Dog A look at Monroe politics from someone at crotch level.

Trigger Warning: Domestic Violence

Domestic violence is never a private matter to be dismissed or excused when power or influence is involved. It is a serious issue that affects families, children, and entire communities. Regardless of politics, title, or popularity, we should never normalize or overlook abuse. I recently wrote about why this matters, and why every community benefits when we expect accountability, compassion, and respect from those who ask to lead us.

Bruises Fade. The Damage Doesn't. When most people hear the words domestic violence, they picture bruises, broken bones, or black eyes. Those injuries are horrific, but they are only part of the story.Many victims never have visible scars.Instead, they endure years of being told they're worthless. They're isolated from friends and f...

Back in October Hillsborough made the decision to end their cooperation with Flock.

There were concerns about privacy. When we sat through the presentation here on Monroe there were a lot of "we won't use it for (blank)" but never a "we can't use it for (blank)"

What happens when they decide they can?

Hillsborough Cancels Contract for License Plate Reader Cameras | News | Town of Hillsborough, North Carolina Town of Hillsborough news and information

It's like an echo. Folks just regurgitating the same words and phrases over and over again without checking to see if they should be said.

Whether it's a lie, a dog-whistle, or political posturing, our mayor does it better than anyone else.

When November rolls around take time to actually read what the candidates are saying. Look beyond the catchy phrases and nonsensical screeds. Ask yourself, what are they actually saying? Does it make sense? Will it make Monroe better?

Great Minds Think Alike... But Fools Seldom Differ We've all heard the first half of the saying:"Great minds think alike."Usually, it's said with a smile after two people reach the same conclusion or have the same idea. It's a compliment, suggesting that intelligent people naturally arrive at similar answers.But the quote doesn't end there.One popul...