Committee#

Editorial note: Rank: B. Institutional satire that earns its length. The misdiagnosis thesis — “if it’s a drone, we can ban drones” — is the scene’s engine and it works. The courthouse setting with “Justice Is Blind” stained glass is a nice ironic frame. The library board member showing up uninvited is a good comic beat. Weakness: the final paragraph editorializes too explicitly — “Misdiagnosis is comforting” tells the reader what the scene already showed. Consider cutting or converting to a character’s internal thought. The “Climate Best” banner here is the third use; per the 3x cap, this is the last one — make sure it earns its placement.

The Public Safety and Technology Committee met in the old courthouse, beneath portraits of past justices and a domed stained-glass skylight proclaiming “Justice Is Blind.” They had convened to address “the recent incident,” but nobody could agree on what the incident actually was.

A council member held up a headline about “weaponized drones” and wanted to ban quadcopters within city limits. Another thought it was “hacktivism” and suggested stricter cybersecurity audits. The Police Chief said it was likely “foreign actors testing our infrastructure.” The City Attorney warned that drafting an ordinance around speculative technology could expose them to litigation.

“This is an issue of data privacy,” said someone from the library board, who had no vote but had shown up anyway. “The City has too many cameras.”

“It’s an issue of misuse,” countered someone from Public Works. “The cameras are fine. The problem is someone repurposed them.”

No one noted that the cameras had been repurposed because they were already networked for convenience. No one said the system had been built because different departments wanted to share footage and nobody wanted to fund integration. The conversation slid between drone bans and noise ordinances and FAA jurisdiction. Someone joked about tinfoil hats. Someone proposed a task force.

Outside, kids chased each other around the fountain in Courthouse Square, where a plaque summarized the city’s history and reminded everyone about the port.

No one said the obvious thing. If it’s a drone, you can ban drones. If it’s a hacker, you can call the FBI. If it’s “the Russians,” it’s someone else’s problem. If it’s none of those — if a man simply used what was already there — you have to admit your own systems can be dangerous by doing exactly what you asked of them.

The meeting adjourned without a resolution. They decided to issue a statement reminding residents that tampering with municipal equipment was a misdemeanor. They did not ask whether the equipment itself had become something it was never intended to be.