Lookout PM: Eugene takes down Flock cameras

Good evening and happy Friday,

The city of Eugene — which asked Flock Safety to remove its license-plate reader cameras from the city — took matters into its own hands this week. Rather than wait for Flock to do it, city crews have so far taken down all but two of the 57 cameras, Eugene police said. Jaime Adame reports.

An anonymous post on the online forum Reddit regarding purported ICE agents sipping coffee at Provisions in Fifth Street Public Market generated hundreds of comments, a good deal of anger, and spilled over onto other social media platforms. Grace Chinowsky dug into the flareup to try to sort fact from rumor.

Community members in Eugene and Springfield turned out in the rain to rally in support of immigrants and to oppose ICE’s enforcement activity. The separate rallies were on the Ferry Street Bridge in Eugene and at City Hall in Springfield. Lillian Schrock-Clevenger and Isaac Wasserman were there.

The worst of the rain has passed, forecasters say. There were reports of high water along the Siuslaw River near Mapleton and Mohawk River near Springfield.

After the victim of a stabbing in a downtown alley died 10 days later, the suspect has been charged with second-degree murder. Jaime Adame reports, and also has more details about what happened.

A Eugene man accused of causing a crash on Interstate 5 that killed a passenger in another car has been charged with manslaughter. Jaime has this story, too.

In the opinion section today:

Guest columnist Richard Steers, a UO professor emeritus, reflects on all the state and local government agencies wresting with budget shortfalls and wonders: Is it time for a sales tax in Oregon?
A letter-writer says there are two big failures evident in the local Flock Safety debacle.

What’s on your mind? Send us a letter (350 words or less, please): lte@lookoutlocal.com

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DAILY DIGEST

Eugene announces removal of license-plate readers ahead of Flock’s schedule

By Jaime Adame

Eugene police Friday, Dec. 19, announced city staff have taken down license-plate reader cameras rather than wait more than a month for removal by the company that installed them, Atlanta-based Flock Safety.

Reddit post about ICE at Eugene restaurant sparks criticism — and corrections

By Grace Chinowsky

Provisions, a downtown Eugene restaurant, is facing backlash after an anonymous online post on Wednesday claimed Immigration & Customs Enforcement agents were seen inside. But that allegation may not have been accurate.