Huntsville officials have withdrawn a proposal to equip city garbage trucks with artificial intelligence cameras following weeks of public pushback. The decision came on Thursday after strong opposition from residents, advocacy groups, and labor organizations.
The city announced it would withdraw a proposed contract with City Detect, a Tuscaloosa-based company that provides AI camera systems. The technology was intended to help identify property violations, but residents raised concerns about unnecessary surveillance, fiscal costs, and community impact.
District 1 City Councilmember Michelle Watkins said the move reflected the voices of taxpayers. “Today, the people made their voices heard,” Watkins said. “Taxpayers matter, and as elected officials, we must listen and respond to the will of the community we serve.”
Mayor Tommy Battle said the city would continue discussions with City Detect over the next six to eight months while focusing on public education.
“Quite frankly, we need to educate people a little bit better on it,” he said. “We need to let people know exactly what it’s going to do, what the ramifications are, what the propensity is for their ability to actually take pictures with it, what exactly they are taking pictures of and how tightly we’re going to be able to hold on with that information.”
Public opposition to the proposal included concerns over surveillance, impacts on marginalized communities, and spending priorities. The program carried an estimated price tag of nearly $1 million.
Community organizations played a major role in opposing the measure.
256 Today reported that the North Alabama Area Labor Council AFL-CIO, Local 50501 mobilized more than 100 residents to urge the council to reject the cameras.
District 5 Councilmember John Meredith credited residents for showing their collective voice matters.
“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,” he said.
Labor leaders also applauded the decision. “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, a District 2 resident.
Residents emphasized that public funds should be redirected toward community support rather than surveillance technology.
Whitney Washington, a District 1 resident, said, “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. I’d love to see grants made available to elderly or disabled homeowners who otherwise might not be able to afford to fix property violations.”
Geoff Angle, a Local 50501 organizer, said the withdrawal showed the strength of citizen action.
“The people of Huntsville have made their voices heard that we do not want further surveillance in our communities,” he said. “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.”
WHNT News 19 previously reported that at a July council meeting, at least ten citizens had voiced concerns about the proposal, calling it intrusive and saying it felt like “big brother.” The council had initially delayed action until Sept. 25 before deciding this week to withdraw the proposal altogether.
Sherri Blevins is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You may contact her at [email protected].
