A growing push to regulate Flock | Inquirer Cherry Hill
Plus, a look inside Asianfresh Food Market.
Hello, Cherry Hill! 👋
Local anti-Flock advocates are hoping bipartisan concerns over privacy mean more regulation for surveillance technology such as automated license plate readers. Also this week, we take you inside the new Asianfresh Food Market, an omakase joint is headed to town this fall, and the Cherry Hill Special Education PTA says it was denied tabling space at back-to-school nights in what it says is a discriminatory decision.
— Laura Smythe (cherryhill@inquirer.com)
Inquirer Cherry Hill
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DeFlock South Jersey activists hope bipartisan pushback can regulate automated license plate cameras
Cherry Hill Mall is among the swath of sites with automated license plate readers across New Jersey, where 523 of the state’s roughly 530 law enforcement agencies are using the technology from Flock and other surveillance companies.
Over the last year, Flock has generated 2.2 million alerts in Cherry Hill alone. The 10 Flock readers in the township have helped police identify vehicles involved in crimes committed both in and out of the township, they say.
Use of the cameras doesn’t sit right with activist group DeFlock South Jersey, which formed this summer amid growing bipartisan concern around how the license plate-reading technology impacts privacy — worries shared by both progressive organizers and national conservative figures.
The Inquirer’s Ximena Conde digs into the growing push for regulating the technology, as well as how the Cherry Hill Police Department has used it over the last few years.
Cherry Hill’s new Asianfresh Food Market held its grand opening last weekend, pulling in shoppers with its array of produce, seafood, and specialty items from Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand, the Philippines, and other Asian countries.
The outpost taps into growing demand for these offerings across the nation, including in the township, where the Asian population grew 32% between 2014 and 2024.
💡 Community News
Cherry Hill contractors, landlords, and residents are among the most common offenders illegally dumping in Camden, according to police, who are using drones and resident-provided footage to hold them responsible.
Childhood education and daycare network Lightbridge Academy recently broke ground on its second Cherry Hill center, which it plans to open next summer, the Courier-Post reports.
Mosquito spraying was slated to take place throughout the township this morning, including on Evans Mill Road, Bortons Mill Road, and South Kings Highway. See the full list of affected sites. Officials also advised residents to remove standing water on their properties to reduce mosquito breeding.
🏫 Schools Briefing
The Cherry Hill Special Education PTA filed a grievance with the school board alleging discrimination after the group says it was blocked from setting up an information table at back-to-school nights for the first time in 12 years.
Cherry Hill Public Schools are closed Monday, which is Yom Kippur.
🍽️ On Our Plate
Cacia’s Bakery, a fourth-generation, family-owned concept well loved throughout the region, appears to be closed in Haddonfield. Locations are still operating in Cherry Hill, Williamstown, and Hammonton.
Akira 70 Omakase, a new Japanese fine-dining concept complete with an omakase experience, is coming to a former Cherry Hill fur salon on Marlton Pike this fall. It’s one of the 60 restaurants launching in the area in the coming months, The Inquirer’s Michael Klein reports.
🎳 Things to Do
🤡 Flip Circus: Marvel at the lineup of aerials, acrobatics, comedy, and live music. ⏰ Wednesday, Sept. 16-Sunday, Sept. 20, various times 💵 $22.88-$84.97 📍 Cherry Hill Mall
💉 Cherry Hill Tattoo Expo: Get some new ink — or watch others who do — at the sixth annual iteration of this event. ⏰ Friday, Sept. 18-Sunday, Sept. 20, hours vary 💵 $24.71-$47.47 📍 DoubleTree by Hilton Cherry Hill Philadelphia
🧵 Cherry Hill Autumn Craft & Vendor Market: Check out wares from local vendors, including seasonal home goods, tasty treats, and candles. ⏰ Saturday, Sept. 19, 10 a.m.-9 p.m. and Sunday, Sept. 20, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. 💵 Pay as you go 📍 Cherry Hill Mall
🗓️ Looking for more things to do? Check out our guide to ongoing South Jersey events.
🏡 On the Market
This 1990 estate brings a dose of French Provincial flair to Cherry Hill’s Hunt Tract neighborhood, complete with a curved staircase in the foyer, a marble-crafted fireplace and floors, and a three-car garage with side entry. The five-bedroom, seven-bathroom home also features a guest suite on the first floor and a conservatory with a view of the surrounding foliage. There is a heated in-ground pool as well as a pool house with a full bathroom.
See more photos of the property here.
Price: $1.395M | Size: 5,695 SF | Acreage: 3.8
🗞️ What other Cherry Hill residents are reading this week:
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