Nashville Metro Council Passes Ordinance Taking First Step Toward Limiting the Surveillance State

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (June 13, 2017) – Last week, the Metropolitan Council of Nashville and Davidson County overwhelmingly passed an ordinance taking the first step toward limiting the unchecked use of surveillance technologies that violate basic privacy rights and feed into a broader national surveillance state. Councilman Dave Rosenberg introduced ordinance No. BL2017-646 in March. The…

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San Francisco P.D. Severs Partnership with Feds Over Lax Surveillance Guidelines

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. (Jun. 8, 2017) – In February, the San Francisco Police Department suspended its participation with the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF), a local/federal partnership that engages in broad-based surveillance in the name of national security. According to the FBI, JTTFs operate in more that 100 cities across the U.S. They “chase…

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New York City Ordinance Would Take First Step Toward Limiting Surveillance State

NEW YORK, N.Y. (March 8, 2017) – The New York City Council will consider an ordinance that would take the first step toward limiting the unchecked use of surveillance technologies that violate basic privacy rights and feed into a broader national surveillance state. Council member Dan Garodnick introduced the Public Oversight of Surveillance Technology Act…

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California Bill Would Require Local Approval Before Police Could Obtain Surveillance Technology

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Dec. 21, 2016) – A bill prefiled in the California Senate for the 2017 legislative session would require all law enforcement agencies in the state to submit a comprehensive Surveillance Use Policy and would prohibit the acquisition of new surveillance technology without local government approval. Passage would take the first step toward limiting…

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Four Ohio Cities Decriminalize Marijuana Possession, Lead Way for Entire State to Nullify Federal Prohibition

Statewide efforts to legalize marijuana in Ohio failed at the ballot box last year, but several cities pressed ahead, voting to decriminalize cannabis within their city limits. This takes a solid first step toward effectively nullifying prohibition in practice. Voters in the Ohio cities of Bellaire, Logan, Newark and Roseville all approved marijuana decriminalization measures…

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Proposed Cambridge Privacy Ordinance Would Take First Step Toward Limiting Surveillance State

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. (Dec. 8, 2016) – The Cambridge city council will consider an ordinance that would take the first step toward limiting the unchecked use of surveillance technologies that violate basic privacy rights and feed into a broader national surveillance state. Late last month, the council adopted a policy order that would require the police…

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Media Inquiry on Ben Carson at HUD

Today, I received an email from a reporter at the Washington Examiner about Ben Carson possibly being HUD secretary. My response below. Question: I’m writing to ask if the Tenth Amendment Center has any response to President-elect Trump apparently picking Ben Carson as HUD Secretary, given that Carson has written critically of the AFFH rule.…

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Proposed Hattiesburg Ordinance Would Take First Step Toward Limiting Surveillance State

HATTIESBURG, Miss. (Nov. 7, 2016) – The Hattiesburg City Council will consider an ordinance that would take the first step toward limiting the unchecked use of surveillance technologies that violate basic privacy rights and feed into a broader national surveillance state. Councilwoman Deborah Delgado will sponsor the ordinance. It would require the Hattiesburg Police Department…

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Ohio City Considering Ordinance to Limit Drones; Would Help Hinder Federal Surveillance Program

BROADVIEW HEIGHTS, Ohio (Oct. 24, 2016) – An Ohio town will consider regulations on drones that may include limits on law enforcement surveillance. The legislation would not only establish important privacy protections at the local level, it would also help thwart the federal surveillance state. According to the Cleveland Plain Dealer, earlier this month, the…

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Proposed Miami Beach Ordinance Would Take First Step Toward Limiting Surveillance State

MIAMI BEACH, Fla. (Oct. 23, 2016) – The Miami Beach city commission will consider an ordinance that would take the first step toward limiting the unchecked use of surveillance technologies that violate basic privacy rights and feed into a broader national surveillance state. Commissioner Michael Grieco introduced the measure earlier this month. The ordinance would…

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