When Something Breaks, Something Else Begins
A growing number of us are paying attention. Here's what that sounds like.
Hi neighbors,
When I started this newsletter, I said I was tired of the social media noise — all the fast takes, arguments, and attention-seeking that often come with it. I wanted to try something different: a slower, more personal way to connect with folks who live here.
What’s followed has been meaningful. I’ve heard from dozens of you, not in public threads or comment sections, but in direct, thoughtful replies. Some were long, some were just a sentence or two. All felt real. They weren’t just reactions to Flock or city policy. They were reflections on this moment we’re in and what it feels like to live in this city right now.
And before I go any further, I want to say this clearly: the concern and pushback we’re seeing in Mountlake Terrace didn’t come out of nowhere. People, especially Black and brown folks, immigrants, LGBTQ+ people, and others most directly affected by policing and surveillance, have been organizing and resisting for a long time. That work has been happening here and beyond, often without recognition.
But I do think more people are starting to ask questions. More people are saying, “Wait a minute, is this really what we want for our city?” And that feels worth naming.
This might not be the beginning of something, but it could be a moment where more of us decide to pay attention and take part.
A Shift in Civic Life
Mountlake Terrace hasn’t always been the most civically active place. City council races have sometimes gone uncontested. Board and commission seats have been left unfilled. A small group of residents has often had an outsized influence on city decisions.
That’s not a criticism. People have busy lives, and local government has often been steady and low-drama. But lately, I’ve noticed a shift.
Our boards and commissions are now full. This year we have a city council primary with four candidates stepping up. When a controversial topic like surveillance came up, people showed up. They paid attention. They spoke out.
That matters.
And for those of us who’ve been more involved, myself included, this is a good time to reflect. When we have the ability to participate, we also have a responsibility to listen, to learn, and to fight for what’s best for all of us, not just those whose voices are already loudest.
What You’ve Been Saying
These are just a few things I’ve heard from neighbors over the past couple of weeks:
“I want to get more involved”
Many said the Flock issue has been a wake-up call — not just about this one policy, but about civic life in general.
“There’s so much happening… but I want to get more involved.”
“This is making me want to be more involved in city stuff in general.”
“Thankful to have you as a neighbor and I want to get more involved.”
Even those who weren’t sure where to start said they were ready to try — to speak up, to pay attention, and to not assume someone else would handle it.
“I’ve felt less alone”
Some people said they were relieved to know others in town shared their concerns.
“It was heartwarming to see so many people show up… It makes me feel less alone in my anguish.”
“It’s been so helpful to hear what others are thinking and feeling about this.”
For some, just knowing that neighbors were asking similar questions and wrestling with the same unease made the situation feel a little less isolating.
“I don’t trust this”
Several readers expressed deep discomfort with the technology itself and how it might be used — now and in the future.
“How could anyone think this isn’t a surveillance system!”
“This just makes it easier for a predator to find someone whose life may be at risk.”
These comments weren’t about abstract policy debates. They were grounded in real fears about safety, misuse, and the potential long-term consequences of decisions being made quickly and with limited oversight.
“Is the Council even listening?”
Others questioned whether input from the public is being taken seriously — or taken into account at all.
“I don’t have faith my letters are even being read… It feels as though MLT Council either doesn’t want to consider our community’s opinions, or doesn’t have the fortitude to challenge where they can the policies being laid out by the Feds.”
“Do these MOUs even matter if data gets passed along anyway?”
People are not just frustrated with the outcome of the vote. They’re concerned about the process, the communication, and whether community trust is being taken seriously.
Everyone Has a Part to Play
It’s always going to be true that those with the time and energy to stay involved will have the most influence. That’s how power tends to work. If you want to be heard, sometimes you do have to be loud.
But there are lots of ways to contribute. Some people speak at meetings. Some write letters. Some forward a newsletter. Some talk to a friend. Some just stay informed.
We all do our part, big and small. And that reminds me of a quote often attributed to Theodore Roosevelt:
“Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.”
That feels like a solid guide for this moment.
One More Thing
There is a City Council meeting tomorrow, Thursday, July 10. It is another opportunity to see if our councilmembers are truly listening.
I was recently reviewing the City's 2025–2029 Strategic Plan, which outlines the Council's vision and top priorities for the next five years. Their third priority reads:
An Informed and Engaged Community: Foster engaged and well-informed diverse community members, who feel heard, empowered, and knowledgeable about the city's actions and initiatives.
City of Mountlake Terrace Strategic Plan 2025–2029 (PDF)
The Flock situation has certainly advanced the "informed and engaged" part — though I doubt this was the mechanism the Council had in mind. Whether residents will “feel heard” is still an open question. So far, that part has not been met.
I’ll keep saying this:
The best path forward is to cancel the Flock contract before the cameras are installed. Even if that means absorbing the cost, it is the right move.
But if the city chooses to move forward, here are four things I believe still must happen:
Affirm our values publicly
Require public review of all Flock MOUs
Re-establish a Community Policing Advisory Board
Commit to public audit reports of the Flock system
Thanks for reading,
Dustin
P.S. In a future newsletter, I’ll share some of the public comments you’ve sent to City Council — the ones you’ve cc’d or bcc’d me on. I’ll keep them anonymous, like everything here, but they deserve to be seen. They are part of this moment too.