Hope you enjoy the view!

I am not at all affiliated with the Flock Camera Info Session tonight at Callanan Park at 6pm - though the instructor is an amazing dude. This information is for folks who will not be able to attend, but are still curious about Flock cameras.

Hey Y'all!

So, the City of Shelton is renewing their Flock contract in August, and there was a post on FB the other day about Ring cameras being used by ICE (due to their partnership with Flock). I've had a few people ask me what Flock is, so I thought I might just do an informational post about something I'm pretty passionate about: Mass Surveillance in Shelton. Did you know we have quite a few Flock cameras around the City of Shelton already? You can view where they're located (and submit the locations of any Flock cameras that aren't marked on the map yet) here.
 

What IS Flock? 

Flock Group Inc. (DBA: Flock Safety) is an American manufacturer and operator of security hardware and software. They specialize in automated license plate recognition (ALPR), video surveillance, and "gunfire locator systems"(Ie. Microphones that record every sound in proximity to the Camera for the 'purpose of safety').
 

What their tech does: Their cameras scan your vehicle and you. The license plate, the make/model, bumper stickers, color, roof rack, and even defining details like a cracked windshield. They also record your driving patterns around town every day as a heat map, and can track where you're likely to be throughout the day. They know where you shop, and where you like to go out to eat. They know where you go to church, work, school, etc. The microphone is always listening, and will record anything that it deems as illegal(people screaming, screeching tires, breaking glass - the AI decides what it will record). The AI system detects your face, clothing, and a leaked Flock patent mentions detecting "race". Then, AI software creates a profile that's provided to law enforcement (or others) when they look up your license plate. Or, if they're trying to find you, they know where to look based off your patterns in the past.

Flock Safety makes the excuse that they keep your information "for 21 days, or as long as required by applicable law or regulation, and then permanently deleted" but that information is stored within an Amazon’s Simple Storage Service, and Cities are beginning to pass laws and regulations on extending it past 30 days - the longest yet being stored for 6 months. 6 months of data on you, stored with Amazon and the Police… and who else..?

I say that because: the biggest difference between Flock and other mass surveillance companies,  is that Flock not only has its cameras on the streets, but also in HOAs, Schools, on Mobile vehicles, in Commercial businesses, and now Ring cameras. As of 2025, Flock claims to operate in 49 states, 5,000 communities, and performs over 20 billion scans per month on the civilian population. There are currently no federal restrictions on how your personal data is used, or stored. PLEASE READ THAT AGAIN - I'M SAYING THAT REGARDLESS OF YOUR OPINIONS ON POLICE/ICE, FLOCK IS STILL REALLY BAD. You never know who is watching you, or why.

Examples of Misuse:

Mass surveillance isn't just dangerous for the undocumented. Flock is also being used to limit the reproductive rights of women in certain states. We also have multiple cases where Flock was used by police to stalk exes and harass others (Note: This is an incomplete list. I gave a few examples, but there are many more instances of misuse):

• Orange City, Florida: Officer Jarmarus Brown was exposed for using the Flock database to obsessively stalk his ex-girlfriend. He ran her license plate through the system at least 69 times, her mother’s plate 24 times, and her father’s plate 15 times. He was caught when a fellow officer physically saw the ex's tracking data on Brown's cruiser screen.
• Milwaukee, Wisconsin: Former Officer Josue Ayala pled guilty to attempted misconduct in public office. He used the Flock database 179 times to track the movements of a former partner and her new boyfriend. A second Milwaukee detective, Tehrangi Chapman, was also recently hit with criminal charges for separate Flock stalking violations.Costa
• Mesa, California: A former police officer pled guilty after using Flock cameras to secretly track his mistress, her new lovers, and his own wife. He shockingly continued to access the system even after being suspended by the department.
• Other Stalking Arrests: Similar criminal charges were recently filed against Chief Michael Steffman in Georgia, Officer Renee Downer in Gwinnett County, and Officer William C. Copp in Illinois, all for searching the plates of former romantic interests.
• Pasadena, Texas: Sergeant Michael Palitz resigned from the force amid an internal probe revealing he had heavily misused the department's Flock network. The automated system itself flagged an overwhelming volume of searches on his account, which investigators discovered he was using to stalk and track a female colleague.
• In late 2025 and early 2026, when at least 60 AI-powered surveillance cameras were discovered wide open on the internet without any password or login requirements. Anyone could view and download the videos directly from the internet. Flock claimed the exposed cameras resembled "factory settings" that had failed to properly connect to secure cloud protocols.

You're going to encounter people saying, "Well I don't do anything illegal so I don't see a problem with Flock!" This is a red herring - most of the people who don't want flock around do not have a criminal record. Flock is dangerous for everyone, including law-abiding citizens. Because Flock markets its technology to homeowner associations, private businesses, and neighborhood groups, thousands of private citizens hold direct administrative access to the platform. It's giving 1984 y'all. Big Brother (and whoever else can afford it) is watching.

Flock gets worse:

NOVA Introduced in 2025 - Imagine you get pulled over for a broken tail light. The Officer scans your plate. They can already see your daily schedule and interests due to data gathered by the Flock cameras. But NOVA tells them about your family, your personal affiliations and even political affiliations. NOVA receives this information from data breaches, public records, and any publicly available information, gathered and organized by AI software for easy consumption.

“You're going to be able to access data and jump from LPR(License Plate Recognition) to person and understand what that context is, link to other people that are related to that person [...] through marriage or through gang affiliation, et cetera,” a Flock employee said during an internal company meeting, according to an audio recording. “There’s very powerful linking.”(Source).

Do you think that officer will still be focused on your broken tail light? NOVA is already being used. Yikes.

They also bought Aerodome, but I feel like I already come across as a tinfoil hat in this, so I won't get into that lol.

And now, Ring (Which, by the way, has always been used for Mass Surveillance - Cops have used Ring cameras to police people since at least 2016) has gone into agreements with both Flock and Axon (another horrible AI company).

But what can we do about it?

Well, we could follow multiple cities around Washington that have banned Flock:

• Edmonds: Voted unanimously to cancel its contract and remove its 19 cameras.
• Mountlake Terrace: Canceled its agreement with Flock.
• Olympia: Fully deactivated and hooded its 15-camera pilot program.
• Redmond: Suspended the use of its Flock cameras, keeping the devices offline pending further City Council review.
• Lynnwood: Voted unanimously to terminate its active contract and permanently end its Flock camera usage.
• More cities are fighting flock and in the process of removing the cameras. Let's join them!

If you are interested in getting more involved, there's a training tonight on Flock at Callanan Park at 6pm. I also urge you to consider making your voices heard at the City Council meeting next Tuesday, July 21st, at 6pm down at the Civic Center.

TLDR; We have a bunch of flock cameras in our town. Flock's bad for everyone. We should get the City to remove them.

Volunteer for the 2026 Shelton Art Walk! 🎨

We're looking for volunteers to help make this year's event a welcoming, fun, and memorable experience for thousands of visitors, artists, and performers.

Volunteer opportunities include:
✨ Artist/Vendor check-in
✨ Beer garden support
✨ Information booth
✨ Set-up & tear-down
✨ Wayfinding and event support
✨ General event assistance

Whether you can volunteer for a couple of hours or the whole day, your time makes a real difference. It's also a great way to meet new people, support local artists, and be part of one of Shelton's favorite community events.

Shelton Art Walk
Saturday, July 25, 2026
12:00–6:00 PM
Downtown Shelton

Interested in helping? Sign up here:
🔗 https://sheltoncreativedistrict.com/get-involved
Or email us at: [email protected]

I was reviewing Crossroads Housing’s publicly available IRS Form 990 filings and noticed a significant increase in Executive Director Tanya Frazier’s compensation over the past five years:

FY2020: $59,794
FY2021: $76,349
FY2022: $93,068
FY2023: $94,935
FY2024: $102,005 (+$5,043 other compensation)
FY2025: $134,271
That’s roughly a 125% increase in five years.

During that same period, Crossroads Housing reported operating deficits in four of the last six fiscal years:
2020: -$150,402
2021: -$68,182
2022: -$163,539
2023: +$57,698
2024: +$48,689
2025: -$31,429

According to the organization’s public filings, executive compensation has continued to increase despite these financial results.

It’s also publicly known that Sharon Schirman serves on the Crossroads Housing board and is Mayor of Shelton, and that she and Tanya Frazier have a personal friendship. Because nonprofit boards are responsible for executive compensation, I think it’s reasonable to ask:

Did Sharon Schirman participate in compensation discussions or votes regarding the Executive Director?

If so, was the board’s conflict-of-interest policy followed?

Was Tanya Frazier’s compensation reviewed using independent market data?

Were any recusals documented in board minutes?

I’m not alleging misconduct. I’m asking about governance, transparency, and whether best practices were followed. These are reasonable questions for any nonprofit that receives public funding and charitable contributions.

Is this Leon Thomas guy alright? I have not read such an unhinged statement for someone running for office. I hope the dude is actually a Squaxin Island tribe member because if not he sounds like an ultra scum bag.

The important thing is to vote in the primary. Washington State law will only let the two top vote getters advance to the general election. This pretty much assures they will always be a republican and a democrat unless we send them a message by voting for independents. We are in this situation because people actually believed the parties looked out for us. If we don’t vote independent, it will be more of the same lies.

This is not up for debate. I am pretty cheesed off at even having to post this, but holy cowflop, some of you...

Comments to this post will be closed.

I have spent a long time thinking about this. This is not Facebook, this is not an echo chamber (except for the call to BE POLITE). I prefer to have educated, thoughtful discussions with people, and the "BUT THEY" argument holds no water. Live your beliefs. Go out and make things happen. Internet arguing is no way to win anything, much less allies and votes.

VOTE WHEN IT COUNTS. Here on reddit, downvotes work. In real life, the ballots work. So far.

I AM NOT SAYING BE NICE, I AM SAYING BE POLITE.

I tried swinging in today and Saturday as well as calling but haven’t been able to reach anyone. I saw that the building is for sale, does anyone know if they are closing shop?

Garage Sales -

- Huge multi family garage sale July 10,11,12 - Friday - Sunday @ 143 W Insels rd Shelton wa. House hold items dishes, silverware, decor, Shop items shelves, tires, Men’s shoes Women’s shoes Lots of women’s and girls clothing Y2K clothing, Baby girl clothes, Baby shoes Toys High chair And a lot more!

- Neighborhood garage sale. Friday and Saturday July 10th and 11th 9-3pm - Eaglewood Way

- Yard sale Friday thru Sunday 9-4 - Grapeview loop rd by lombard. Drones, projector, game cams, night vision binoculars, lego, speakers, smart rings, and lots more new... Storage unit stuff- name your price and take it. Sunday 12-4 fill a cardboard box for $10 on the storage unit stuff.

- HUGE Estate Sale!! 51 E Thors Lane, Shelton, WA - 7/10 & 7/11 9am to 4pm - No Holds! First come first served!

Have a fun weekend y'all!

Ever wonder about things like who McReavy was to get a road named after them? Wonder no more!

John McReavy came to Mason County in the early 1860s, and got his start in timber. In just a few short years, he was the owner of a successful logging operation with a sawmill. He served in the legislature when Washington was still a territory, and he was part of the state's constitutional convention in 1889, signing Washington's Declaration of Statehood. He was critical to the growth of Union (originally called Skokomish, but renamed Union City in 1890), and served as school superintendent, and postmaster. He also owned and ran the local general store, hotel, and sold real estate.

He built and moved into McReavy House in 1890, and it's one of the oldest houses still standing on Hood Canal. In 2008, a local nonprofit was created to support the restoration of this lovely Victorian house, and, while there are still dreams to see come to fruition, the house is open to the public on weekends this summer!

Through Labor Day weekend, tours and art exhibits will be held on Saturdays and Sundays, from 1-4 PM.

I am not affiliated with McReavy House, but as a curious person, I've always wanted to go inside it (and here's my chance!). I figured there might be some other fellow curious people who might want to check it out as well. 😊

Later this month we have a very special segment planned for our podcast, The Economic Current, and we want to hear from you. Work is well underway for the new USDA Funded Market-Ready Mason program which aims to support local farmers, producers, and farmers markets in Mason County.

What are you curious about? Drop your questions in the comment for a chance to have it answered on our show!

Whether you're a local producer, a farmers market regular, or just curious about what's happening in our local food scene, we want to hear from YOU!

in a few weeks ill be moving from Hawaii were i was born and raised and as much as i love Washington im worried i wont be able to handle it like i think i will. This move is slightly forced due to the fact i just can't afford to live here anymore and other personal reasons, ill be living a little bit from the town and living far away from a major city is a little nerve racking for me.
long story short i guess im just looking for tips on how to adjust to the lifestyle in Washington especially during the wintertime (i love the rain and cold but that's cause i don't experience it often. Along with the customs there because i know people are VERY different in WA
any sort of suggestions/tips are helpful & welcomed

i should note ill be living with family and not on my own while i get back on my feet and basically restart my life at 25(F) y/o

Tonight is the first of 6 weeks of live music at Kneeland Park starting at 7pm. Kern's Kitchen will be selling food. Come down to Kneeland Park and watch the Lester Crow Band tonight!

Mayor Sharon talks about wanting to unify Shelton, but then her good friend Dean Jewitt went after two good city employees last night at the council meeting.
He went in to “declare World War III. Check out around timestamp 34:21.

Sharon says she can’t control her friends, but she can control who she chooses to be friends with.

https://youtu.be/4b9cka-MDOc?is=quNtG_K8nLGEoQVR

To the Honorable Members of the [Shelton] City Council,
I am writing to propose a community-based mural initiative aimed at revitalizing our downtown,
fostering civic pride, and providing meaningful opportunities for local and regional artists. As a recent
resident and engaged member of the community, I have observed an abundance of available wall
space on commercial buildings that currently remains underutilized. These surfaces present a
unique opportunity for a beautification effort that can also serve as a platform for creative
expression, storytelling, and historical recognition.
The proposal is simple in concept: organize a regional art competition wherein selected artists are
commissioned to paint murals on pre-approved public or private walls. These murals would be
guided by themes such as local history, natural beauty, cultural identity, and community values.
The goals of this initiative include:
- Beautifying underutilized or aging downtown spaces
- Encouraging community involvement and ownership of public art
- Attracting visitors and strengthening civic tourism
- Supporting local artists and youth through mentorship and paid commissions
Page 1Letter to City Council
This project would not require substantial funding from the city to begin. Private sponsorships, local
partnerships, and potential grant opportunities could support its development. I ask the Council to
consider providing:
- Public endorsement or a resolution of support
- A point of contact within City Planning or Parks and Recreation
- Guidance on wall use permissions and public/private property coordination
Public art initiatives in similar towns have proven effective in drawing positive attention, promoting
economic activity, and fostering a sense of shared identity. I would be grateful for the opportunity to
present this idea in greater detail and work collaboratively with any department or councilmember
willing to support its development.
Thank you for your time and commitment to improving our town. I welcome your thoughts and would
be honored to discuss this further.

Had someone come by who claimed to be doing fumigation nearby (pointed towards an area that has no houses whatsoever)/here to talk about a new fumigation law. Very rural area, drove in on an electric scooter thing like mall cops have in movies. Had a difficult time getting him to leave, he was covering the lead when I was trying to figure out if he was a lost delivery driver for a while. He did leave when i told him bluntly that we have no trespassing signs and that he had to go. Light, redish hair, about 6 feet or a bit under, pale eye color, consistent solicitor tone and facial expressions. Anyone else had this guy or someone related come by? Something about him just set off my nerves about the situation.

Update: dad checked with our neighbor cause he saw the guy leaving her place. Legit company, didnt catch the name, she does not think highly of their advertising methods or actual work. Im not used to having solicitors out here so i have revised my script in case this happens again and given the dog lots of pets for responding properly to a non-delivery person (barking and guarding). I originally posted to see if he was a legit solicitor or if i needed to be extra careful about closing up when i step away from the house.

Update again: checked with other neighbors today down a split of the road that i usually check in on often anyways. Found out through that grapevine that the guy had made adjustments to his sales pitch after being told no. He now had bribes for dogs, and when he got to the final house on the road he straight up lied and said the house before had taken the offer. Through that info i found out that apparently the services he's advertising are $66 and that to take payment he takes a photo of both sides of the credit card. (Last house did call the bank to cancel the card after they left and she had a nonpressured moment to breathe and realize what had happened.)

Published within the last hour on Facebook:

"Let’s clear the air.

I know the rumors have been flying for months. I waited to speak because I wanted the dust to settle — though it’s honestly ridiculous that I should have to “defend” myself against things that were never true to begin with.

What I Stand Against:

I do hate certain things — not people, but behaviors and conditions that hurt communities:

Dishonesty, manipulation, and people who encourage hate.

Wasting hard‑earned tax dollars.

Allowing people to live in misery instead of helping them rise.

Jumping on a hate bandwagon without doing any research.

Anything that divides a community that once stood together.

People who enjoy watching others struggle or fail.

Hurting children or hiding important things from their parents.

Putting children into adult situations or conversations.

Twisting words to fit an agenda and dragging others into deceit.

Grandstanding to seem “better” than others.

Filth, unsanitary conditions, and destruction of property.

Taking advantage of good-hearted people who are trying to make the world better.

What I Love:

I love people who want better — not just for themselves, but for others.

Happy people.

People who rise after struggle and encourage others to rise too.

People working to improve their lives every day.

Small towns that come together to lift their community.

The innocence of children who haven’t been exposed to things they shouldn’t.

Long-lost friendships and families reunited.

People who bring new ideas, businesses, and opportunities to a struggling economy.

Hardworking, salt‑of‑the‑earth people.

What I Don’t Care About:

I don’t care who you marry, who you love, or what your past looks like. I care about who you are today and who you’re becoming.

Over the past few months, people have twisted my intentions into things they are not. They’ve claimed that everything I do — or don’t do — is worthy of hate. Some have even said I deserve death. I’ve received death threats from people I’ve never met, based solely on lies they heard from others.

To my friends who were afraid to speak up while my name was dragged through the mud:

It’s okay. I understand. When an angry online mob forms, it’s scary to be the one who speaks against it. People can be cruel. I’m taking the hits — you shouldn’t have to. I still love you.

For those who know me, you know that when I said, “I don’t want to divide this community,” I meant exactly that. Some people chose to ignore it — either because they don’t know me or because they only know me through hate.

For the record:

I do not hate anyone based on their personal choices or identity. I have many gay friends. Several have told me they simply want to be treated like everyone else — not singled out, not spotlighted, not made into a political symbol. They asked me not to divide the community, and I agreed.

But some people twisted that into something personal or hateful. It wasn’t. It was respect. What I’ve received in return has been anything but respectful. I’ve seen m urd erers treated better than I have these past few months.

I don’t know where the idea came from that I “hate homeless people.” I don’t. I want better for everyone.

What I do hate is trash in our parks, needles where children play, drug dealers killing people and walking free, and families destroyed by addiction.

I have housed homeless individuals. I have helped people in recovery. I have volunteered countless hours to combat homelessness. Many of the people calling me “anti‑homeless” have done far less to help than I have.

I am far from perfect — but I know who I am. I am not a hater. Those who truly know me understand that.

Let the record show:

I love this community so deeply that the pain of what’s happened has been destroying me from the inside. And yes — I know that makes a few people smile.

But I’m still here.

Still standing.

Still loving this community, even when it doesn’t love me back."

Around 1 or 2 am, near turner road and kneeland park. Anyone else hear this or know what it was?