Curfew

It was an interesting day at work today - lots of business to tie up before the council takes its summer recess. Top on the agenda, a public hearing on a proposed curfew for youth under the age of 18. The bill is being pushed by the County Executive as a way of curbing gang activity and violence...since both P.G. and D.C. have curfews, folks say those kids are crossing the county line to hang out and this has resulted in late night trouble. I spoke with the police chief who said "we don't want to keep kids from being teenagers" but the law in its current form is restrictive and targets a certain class.

A group of teens organized a Facebook page and had more than 6000 followers within one day. Many of those kids came to the council office building today to state their views on this legislation that in my view is deeply flawed. We will see how the council breaks it down and reworks it in the fall. Although I am a mother who firmly believes not much good happens after midnight, I am skeptical that a curfew is the answer to this problem.