City doesn’t need new cameras
On Oct. 7, 2025, the Camarillo City Council voted unanimously to approve the purchase and installation of 15 new ALPR cameras. There are numerous public concerns regarding increased mass surveillance. The safety and storage of the data that is collected, federal agencies pressuring local law enforcement to access this data, and the constitutionality of using these devices all come into question. What I am struggling to decipher is:
Why are we installing these new cameras?
Are these cameras actually addressing the most urgent needs when it comes to Ventura County residents and their safety?
There is no data, no meaningful study, that suggests that the presence of Flock Cameras decreases crime or makes us safer.
So, my question for you all is this: Why are we not focusing our time, effort, and energy on social services to address a spike in crime that is clearly a result of economic hardship and poverty?
And the unfortunate answer that I’ve come to realize is: “because it’s hard.”
It’s much easier to continue incarcerating individuals for theft, drug use, and crimes related to poverty than it is to build systems that combat poverty itself.
Maybe I’m paranoid. Maybe I believe that these devices, which can undoubtedly be used for good, can also be used for absolute evil. That surveillance of the public will ultimately be used as a tool of the few to suppress the voices and outcries of the many.
No matter what side of the aisle you sit on, the information collected about you by these devices, information that reveals who you are, your habits, your vices, your safe places, your family, all could be used to silence you. To threaten you. To scare you from standing up for what you believe in. That should concern all of us.
Matt O’Neill, Camarillo
Disrespected at Camarillo Fiesta
I am writing to share my experience performing a bilingual musical set alongside a local children’s Ballet Folklórico at the Camarillo Fiesta on July 18. My intention is not to seek revenge, but to offer constructive feedback so future organizers can improve.
During our 11 a.m. slot, we faced severe logistical hurdles in the intense heat. Our audience — including children in wheelchairs and their helpers — had no shade or chairs. No hydration was provided, and the young dancers lacked a dressing area, forcing their teacher to use tarps for privacy. When microphone feedback arose, communication broke down entirely. During our second set, an organizer abruptly silenced my final song to rush the schedule, refusing to give her name.
In my 30-year career, I have never been dismissed so disrespectfully. It was deeply disheartening to see audience shade, seating, and technical support suddenly appear the moment our set concluded. Because the subsequent acts were predominantly white, it was impossible not to feel targeted. My feelings were deeply hurt because I felt genuinely discriminated against, leaving the painful impression that if we were not Latinos, these issues wouldn’t have occurred.
To ensure all community members feel valued, future events need a dedicated stage manager to coordinate transitions and handle unexpected delays with a supportive attitude. Organizers must also post the most updated lineup — including last-minute changes — visibly at the stage and performer areas.
Finally, providing basic hydration, setup spaces, and audience shade ensures safety for all. Artistic stages should unite our diverse community, and with a more collaborative spirit, we can ensure every performer and spectator is treated with equal dignity.
Juan D. Mendoza, Ventura
Trump presidency is dangerous
Re: Dr. Tyler B. Evans’ July 19 guest column, “This cyclospora parasite outbreak is symptom of a broken system”:
Dr. Evans stated that a parasitic outbreak is due to a broken system. I couldn’t agree more. But I believe I have a different broken system. That broken system is the president. He has nearly destroyed the CDC by depleting its personnel. Much like he has done to many other departments of our government. The problem here is that the CDC is the department that is in charge of protecting public health.
President Trump seems to not care about it. He is too involved with an idiotic war that would never have happened if, in his first destructive term he had not pulled us out of a treaty that President Obama had inked with Iran which prevented nuclear weapons. Like so many other times, his ego has ruined things again. My next fear is his trying to stop the midterms, he’s already trying as reported over and over again.
Cyclospora is just one disease, I believe his presidency is more dangerous.
Jim Shahan, Oak Park
This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: More cameras unnecessary, issue at fiesta, dangerous Trump | Letters
Reporting by Ventura County Star / Ventura County Star
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By Ventura County Star | USA TODAY Network
