After Opposition Led in Part by North Alabama’s Unions, Huntsville City Council Declines Contract for AI Cameras

Mayor Tommy Battler announced that he would withdraw a proposed contract with the Tuscaloosa company City Detect to equip city garbage trucks with AI cameras. The cameras were intended to detect property violations, but Huntsville residents - including members of unions in the area - felt alarmed about unnecessary surveillance and questionable use of public money. 

Led by the North Alabama Area Labor Council (NAALC), AFL-CIO, the local chapter of 50501, and Indivisible, a coalition of more than 100 residents urged the city council to vote no on the cameras at the Sept. 25 city council meeting. Due to resounding opposition, the Mayor announced last night that he will withdraw the proposal from consideration on Sept. 25. Mayor Battle stated the contract may be brought back in six to eight months, citing the need to “educate” the public.

“North Alabama’s unions celebrate the city council doing the right thing by listening to their constituents and withdrawing this misguided proposal from consideration,” said NAALC President Jacob Morrison - resident of Huntsville City Council District 2. 

“The people of Huntsville have made their voices heard that we do not want further surveillance in our communities. Pulling the proposal from the agenda is a small victory we must celebrate. This is proof that regular people have the power to make change happen!” Geoff Angle, a 50501 local organizer, said.  

Residents opposed to the cameras expressed several issues including surveillance, impact on marginalized communities, and fiscal irresponsibility. 

“Spending nearly $1 million of taxpayer funds on ineffective cameras was obviously an unpopular choice. That money should be reinvested into our communities to support people, not punish them,” NAALC member Whitney Washington, resident of Huntsville City Council District 1, said. “I’d love to see more grants made available to elderly or disabled homeowners who otherwise might not be able to afford to fix property violations.”

Advocates will continue to hold Huntsville’s leaders accountable

“We must keep the pressure on Mayor Battle for postponing the council's ability to reject the proposal. If his word is true, we have six months to redouble our efforts,” Angle said.

“We are concerned about the Mayor’s comments that this issue may be revisited in six to eight months,” Morrison said. “The people have made their position clear, and the labor movement will continue to monitor the situation and encourage the city of Huntsville to do the right thing. We hope to see the momentum continue as we build the people power we need to win the kind of city working people deserve.” 

City Councilors supportive of withdrawing the proposal from consideration gave the following comments on the situation to the NAALC: 

“Today, the people made their voices heard,” District 1 city council member Michelle Watkins said. “Taxpayers matter, and as elected officials, we must listen and respond to the will of the community we serve.”

”It is a joyous day in Huntsville as this  nearly flawless effort of advocacy has proven the citizens of our great city do in fact have the power in their collective voice to shape the laws that govern their daily lives,” District 5 council member John Meredith said.