A controversial curfew proposal is drawing support from at least three candidates in Tuesday’s election. But the curfew also is sparking concerns among others.
Local civil rights groups and a few councilors running for re-election argue that curfews are extreme measures that violate the rights of youths. Mostly Republicans and Conservatives are calling for a citywide curfew, thought it won’t carry severe punishment for violators.
One of the supporters is Albert Julian, the Republican candidate for Common Council District 1. Julian says he sees the curfew as an opportunity for people to reach out to kids in trouble.
“I look at the curfew as a tool for, an additional tool for neighboring policing officers. I look at the curfew as a tool for social services, a tool for the school district, a tool for we as councilors, and a tool for parents as well.” [Albert Julian]
Two other supporters are Kurt Schmeling, who is the Conservative candidate for Common Council District 1, and Ed McLaughlin, who is a Syracuse school board candidate from the Independence Party.
McLaughlin also calls a curfew as a necessary tool for the city of Syracuse. These three candidates — Al Julian, Kurt Schmeling and Ed McLaughlin — agree that a curfew program will work to improve the lives of students in and out of the classroom.
Supporters of a curfew in Syracuse look at the success of the curfew program started in Rochester last year. The curfew in Rochester is from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. During this time, youths 16 and under are picked up and brought to a curfew center where their files are looked at and cross-checked with school records. Republican candidate Julian says this curfew has already cut down on youth violence in Rochester by 30 percent and has also decreased truancy rates.
“More kids are in school, then test scores are going to go up, learning is taking place, then graduation rates go up.” [Albert Julian]
In improving education, Conservative party candidate Schmeling suggests a curfew will have the same effect here in Syracuse. Schmeling says in the Syracuse city schools there are 23,000 students out of school each day. Schmeling argues that the kids that stay out too late typically don’t go to school.
“When they do get to school, they got their head on the desk because they can’t stay awake, so you know the curfew affects on their education is, number one, they should be in school and, number two, while they’re in school they should be participating.” [Kurt Schmeling]
In improving street safety, school board candidate McLaughlin of the Independence Party suggests a curfew will make a difference. He says he lives on the west side of the city where he is personally affected by youth violence.
“We can’t just have people running around over public property. Property is destroyed. The quality of life is terrible. Again, go out to the street and see — it’s despicable to see young people out.” [Ed McLaughlin]
Opponents of a curfew argues that the curfew was already rejected here in Syracuse and there is no need to revisit the issue.
Looking at the concerns over young people’s rights, Barrie Gewanter, the executive director for the local ACLU, says the rights of youths do not magically appear at sunrise and then disappear at sunset.
“Young people should not be taken into custody by police or transported by police or face any kind of consequences in the legal system when they are out on the streets with their parent’s permission at any particular hour of the day.” [Barrie Gewanter]
Looking at the curfew’ effects on the police department, Kathleen Joy, a Democratic candidate for Councilor-at-Large, Joy says a curfew program would put an extra burden on the police.
“If there was a call for a break in or burglary, rather than rounding some 16 year olds up and taking them to a processing center, I would rather see them concentrate their activities on truly criminal behavior in protecting our city.” [Kathleen Joy]
Instead of a curfew, Joy suggests teaching parents how to be parents and how to create a stable home life for their children.
Looking at racial tensions, Bill Ryan, also a Democratic candidate for Councilor-at-Large, Ryan says a curfew would increase already existing tensions between the community and the police. Instead of a curfew, Ryan says he offered to chair a committee to look at how to prevent violence in Syracuse by bringing non-profit, police, and neighborhood groups together.
“What people seem to lose sight of a curfew is if they’re breaking a law, arrest them. If someone’s doing something wrong, arrest them. But if they’re out past a certain hour, I don’t see harm in that.” [Bill Ryan]
The election is November 6th.
For Democracywise, I’m Amy Aaronson.
(Amy Aaronson is a junior broadcast journalism major)
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