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Smart streetlights have been installed throughout the city but are not currently in use. The city cut access to 3,000 of them back in 2020 after public outcry over privacy concerns.

“There are numerous problems with smart streetlights and how it disproportionally impacts those of us in communities of color. I can speak to it directly — where I live, for example, I can not leave my house without having to pass by a smart street light,” said another community member at the meeting.

But SDPD is requesting to reactivate 500 smart streetlights that capture images and data in the city for police investigations. Police also want to add automated license plate readers for investigative purposes.

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