Residents are wary of the new technology’s potential for surveillance, but support boosting enforcement while reducing interaction with police.

A new report outlines the opinions expressed by Boston community members in a series of focus groups that sought to understand how Black residents view the city’s road safety and traffic enforcement policies. Writing in Streetsblog Massachusetts, Christian MilNeil outlines the report’s findings.
Researcher Lindiwe Rennert, the study’s author, “found widespread agreement that the current system is not working well, particularly in Black communities, which face higher crash risks both from police violence and from dangerous roads.” But residents also expressed concern over violent interactions with law enforcement.
“The big takeaway was, cameras don’t have guns.” According to Rennert, “While there are civil liberties concerns associated with camera-based enforcement, the concern is de-escalated from loss of life, to an abuse of information. Both are important, but the scale is unquestionably different.” But participants also said new technology could set up new methods of surveillance and perpetuate discriminatory systems.
Based on the focus groups, Rennert makes some suggestions to lawmakers to implement successful automated enforcement programs: ensure fine revenues are directed to street safety and public transit, establish external oversight, limit how much cameras can see, use trusted agencies, and “right-size the penalty” to prevent outsized punishment for minor infractions.
FULL STORY: ‘Cameras Don’t Have Guns’ – Boston’s Black Community Weighs In On Camera-Based Traffic Enforcement

Trump Administration Could Effectively End Housing Voucher Program
Federal officials are eyeing major cuts to the Section 8 program that helps millions of low-income households pay rent.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

Ken Jennings Launches Transit Web Series
The Jeopardy champ wants you to ride public transit.

Driving Equity and Clean Air: California Invests in Greener School Transportation
California has awarded $500 million to fund 1,000 zero-emission school buses and chargers for educational agencies as part of its effort to reduce pollution, improve student health, and accelerate the transition to clean transportation.

Congress Moves to End Reconnecting Communities and Related Grants
The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee moved to rescind funding for the Neighborhood Equity and Access program, which funds highway removals, freeway caps, transit projects, pedestrian infrastructure, and more.

From Throughway to Public Space: Taking Back the American Street
How the Covid-19 pandemic taught us new ways to reclaim city streets from cars.
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