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Full Raw Interview: Mayor Carmella Mantello discusses agreement on new policy for Flock cameras

CBS6 Albany · 5 months ago

The short version: Troy's mayor and city council strike a deal on Flock camera policy, but 'raw interview' footage reminds us that policy promises need teeth, not just press-conference reassurance.

Our Take

CBS6 Albany caught Troy Mayor Carmella Mantello fielding reporter questions about a new city-council agreement governing Flock Safety cameras in her city. We appreciate the outlet posting the full, unedited exchange rather than a chopped-up soundbite — credit to CBS6 for letting viewers hear the mayor's actual answers instead of a 20-second clip stripped of context.

Here's the thing about these 'agreements' that keep popping up in city after city: a policy is only as good as its enforcement and its audit trail. Who gets access to the footage, how long it's retained, whether out-of-state or federal agencies can query the system, and what happens when an officer runs a plate for personal reasons — these are the details that actually matter, and they rarely survive a press conference intact. Troy residents deserve to see the written policy itself, not just hear city officials characterize it as a win.

If you live in or around Troy, check our camera map to see where ALPRs are already watching your streets, and head to take-action for templates on requesting your city's actual Flock contract and audit logs — because the real accountability happens after the cameras are installed, not during the announcement.

This is DeFlock The USA’s original commentary. The video above is the work of CBS6 Albany, published on YouTube — full credit to the creator.