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33rd Ward Working Families Public Statement in opposition to Park Surveillance

Sep 24, 2026
3 min read
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Dear Chicago Park District,

President Everett

Superintendent Ramírez-Rosa

Members of the Board of Commissioners


33rd Ward Working Families demand the immediate removal of the mobile surveillance trailer installed at Ronan Park and call for a broader reckoning with unregulated surveillance across Chicago’s parks and city agencies.


Mobile Surveillance Unit at City Parks

On or around August 16-17, 2026 the Chicago Park District installed a LiveView Technologies (LVT) solar-powered mobile surveillance trailer at Ronan Park (2900 W. Lawrence Ave). We are told the camera was placed to monitor an encampment of approximately 20 unhoused residents due to increased reports of community safety risks. This is not the first time mobile camera trailers have been deployed at or near city parks. LiveView Technologies claims their AI powered surveillance units can detect humans in complete darkness up 1200+ ft away and with 31x zoom. This means the surveillance trailer has the potential to reach far beyond the encampment into nearby homes, vehicles, and community gardens. Beyond the concerning capabilities of LVT’s technology, LVT is not a trustworthy partner given their financial connections to DHS and collaboration with an Israeli AI surveillance company. Furthermore, while we had anticipated that the footage would not be accessed by law enforcement, we have since been informed by Irene Tostado, a spokesperson for the Park District, that footage from this unit “can and will be shared with police for investigation purposes without a warrant” via email communication disclosed by Block Club. 


Surveillance Cameras are Installed:

  • Without Board of Commissioners approval or public discussion. 

The Board’s August 12th meeting was cancelled, and no board meeting occurred between June 10th and the date of the camera’s installation. There is no public record of this decision or any process.

  • Without Community Input. 

Residents of the encampment and surrounding neighbors were not consulted nor informed about the camera. While we understand that there may be instances of behavior that requires further attention from relevant agencies to ensure the safety of people in the community, there has been no space to discuss the concerns folks have with the approach taken or any potential alternatives.

  • Without a written, public data policy. 

There is no disclosed retention period, access policy, or standard operating procedure governing when and how footage is shared with the Chicago Police Department or any other agency.

Surveillance is a Problem For All of Chicago

Ronan Park is not an isolated incident in surveillance and it reflects the same unregulated pattern documented across the Chicago Park District’s broader camera program:

  • Park District cameras are folded into the citywide “Operation Virtual Shield” network, alongside CTA, CPD, and other agency cameras, with no public audit of the system’s use or effectiveness (ACLU).

  • The use of cameras around the city is growing at an exponential rate without oversight. This leaves loopholes for agencies to use the footage for means outside of stated uses, putting Chicagoans at risk - whether this is intended or not, it is dangerous. 

  • The normalization of surveillance has emboldened those like Ald. Emma Mitts (37th Ward) to propose Ordinance O2025-0018186 which would add Section 4-4-075 to the Municipal Code and mandate that all licensed businesses open to the public install and maintain surveillance cameras at entrances, exits, and parking areas, retain footage for at least seven days, and produce it within 21 days of an order issued “in the form of a subpoena” by CPD, OEMC, or the Office of Public Safety Administration without any judicial oversight.


We demand:

  • The immediate removal of the mobile surveillance unit from Ronan Park.

  • Cancel the current contract with LiveView and impose an immediate moratorium on new camera or surveillance-technology deployment in any Chicago park without a public Board vote and published community input process.



Sincerely,

33rd Ward Working Families