Curfew

It was with a world-weary feeling that we read Joanne Davidow's lead letter on today's page proposing a curfew for Rittenhouse Square to keep street people from camping there. The city actually has such a law on its books, imposing a 1 a.m. curfew in all city parks. Indeed, two years ago the Goode administration promised City Council that it would enforce the curfew in downtown parks and squares, but there has been no consistent follow-through. Such passivity shouldn't be confused with compassion.

In most Burlington County communities, police expect an onslaught of merry pranksters on both Mischief Night and Halloween night, Monday and Tuesday. On those nights, at least 10 of the county's 35 towns will enforce existing curfews or impose temporary ones. Though not imposing a curfew, Mount Laurel has an extensive plan for stemming trouble, said crime prevention officer Ference Schubert. "We're making several recommendations: that parents screen what candy children bring home, that kids only eat candy that is commercially wrapped, and that trick-or-treaters aren't out beyond a responsible hour," said Schubert.

THE CORNER of Broad and South streets has long been a popular spot for Philadelphia's teen mobs, whose activity has led to a 9 p.m. weekend curfew for those under 18. But members of several community groups hope to turn the tables tonight at 8:30 in a demonstration against the curfew. Diop Olugbala, an independent mayoral candidate, says the curfew infringes on the rights of youth to assemble freely. It also fails to get to what he describes as the heart of the problem: economic conditions.

CHANGES WERE made to the latest city curfew bill yesterday, following concerns about steeper fines, tougher enforcement and children's civil rights. City Council gave committee-level approval to the bill, introduced by Councilwoman Blondell Reynolds Brown on behalf of the Nutter administration. The proposal would impose a $75 fine for a violation, up from $25. The maximum penalty would be $500. The changes would give parents 30 days instead of 10 to pay the $75 fine after receiving a notice that their child violated curfew.

By Louis Lombardi Mayor Nutter has decided to take an ironfisted approach to the city's flash-mob problem. Although his motives and much of his response are commendable, his decision to institute a curfew for portions of the city is troubling. While last weekend's relative quiet was attributed to the curfew, its reported effectiveness does not necessarily make it right. Under the curfew, youths under 18 who are found out and about after 9 p.m. in Center City, the South Street area, and University City are subject to arrest.

Jim Lynam doesn't believe in curfews. "I'm not a curfew guy," the 76ers' coach said yesterday. "I never had curfews with my kids. "But as I say that, I had one as a kid, because that was the way my father saw fit to do it. It worked for him. " The premise of a curfew has come up because Sixers captain Charles Barkley was involved in an incident at 2:30 a.m. Dec. 22 in Milwaukee in which he has been charged with a count of misdemeanor battery...

So far, so good: No "flash mobs" were reported in Philadelphia's first weekend of early curfews and extra police to curb teen violence. But a few dozen youths were picked up for violating curfew - and a teenage girl was stabbed in the arm on her way home from Mayor Nutter's Saturday-night youth bowling event. Police said the wound was minor. Twelve young people were picked up for curfew violations in Center City on Saturday night, and Nutter went bowling with hundreds of teenagers in Kensington as part of an effort to halt a string of random attacks by gangs of youths.

A rise in vandalism and other petty juvenile crimes is prompting Upper Uwchlan officials to consider adopting a series of tough new laws that, among other things, sets a curfew for teenagers and limits the operation of mini- bikes. The ordinances, which are to be voted on at a Board of Supervisors meeting Dec. 5, were proposed first by John DeMarco, the township's highest ranking policeman. Although the proposed laws have been written and are ready for debate and possible enactment by the supervisors, John Roughan, Upper Uwchlan's new township manager, said last week that he would discuss neither the measures themselves nor the rationale for them.

In response to recent teen mob attacks in Center City, Mayor Nutter announced Friday that police would strictly enforce curfews for juveniles this weekend. The curfew for children 12 and younger is 10 p.m. For youths ages 13 to 17, the curfew is midnight. "To the few who think they can get away with acting violently and disrespecting our city, you will be caught, and there are serious consequences," Nutter said. A first-time offense for a juvenile can result in a $250 fine, with fines up to $500 for subsequent violations.

Instead of shutting down late-night businesses early, Camden's curfew law has become the tale of one delay after another. A lawsuit scheduled to be heard Tuesday from some business owners and city activist Frank Fulbrook challenging the ordinance has been delayed until the end of summer. And the city, which has yet to enforce the law passed in September, plans to convene a meeting later this month to discuss enforcement by summer. The ordinance — which mandates that businesses in residential zones or within 200 feet of a residential zone close between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. on weekdays and between midnight and 6 a.m. on weekends as a way to help curb crime — went into effect Sept.

Mayor Nutter signed a bill Monday establishing stricter curfew rules and stiffer penalties for minors and their parents in response to "flash mob" violence this year. Anyone 13 or younger who is not with a parent or legal guardian will need to be off the streets by 8 p.m. during the school year and 9 p.m. during the summer. Older teens will have later curfews, up to 11 p.m. for 16 and 17 during the summer. Parents can be fined up to $500 depending on the violation. Minors breaking curfew will be taken to police stations, where they can be picked up by their parents.

THE NEW curfew law will be enormously better for the police. My brother is a Philadelphia police sergeant, and he says the mayhem with the kids is late at night. The curfew will have less kids on the street and the cops can contain them better. With flash mobs, the stores should have a security system so when a large group comes in and begins grabbing things, the owner can push a button that locks the doors, then he can call 9-1-1. George Walton Upper Darby, Pa. The new curfew law is a bogus attempt by City Council to act as though they care about the citizens of this city.

Presidential debate sites picked WASHINGTON - The committee that sponsors presidential debates during the general election chose Denver, Hempstead, N.Y., and Boca Raton, Fla., as the sites for three debates in October 2012. One vice presidential debate will be held in Danville, Ky., the Commission on Presidential Debates said Monday. The debates between President Obama and his Republican challenger will take place Oct. 3 at the University of Denver, Oct. 16 at Hofstra University in Hempstead, N.Y., and Oct. 22 at Lynn University in Boca Raton, Fla. The vice presidential debate is set for Oct. 11 at Centre College in Danville, Ky. The commission was established in 1987 and has sponsored the official presidential and vice presidential debates since 1988.

PORTLAND, Ore. - Dozens of anti-Wall Street protesters were arrested Sunday in Texas, where they clashed with police over food tables, and in Oregon, where officers dragged them out of a park in an affluent neighborhood. In New York and other East Coast cities, it was a snowstorm that was making it difficult for demonstrators to stay camped out in public places. The Occupy movement, which began six weeks ago in Lower Manhattan to decry corporate influence in government and wealth inequality, has spread to cities large and small across the country and around the world.

PARENTS, DO YOU know where your children are? If not, it may cost you. City Council passed a stricter curfew measure yesterday that would impose a $75 fine - despite strong opposition and concerns about its effectiveness, overly aggressive policing and racial profiling. The bill, introduced by Councilwoman Blondell Reynolds Brown on behalf of the Nutter administration, passed 15-1. Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell voted against it and Councilwoman Joan Krajewski was absent.

A nearly unanimous City Council passed a new youth curfew Thursday after a long and raucous hearing dominated by often-heated testimony against the measure. The 15-1 vote sent a chamber full of opponents into chants of, "Shame! Shame!" As they filed out, they chanted, "We need schools, not the curfew. " The bill's sponsor, Councilwoman Blondell Reynolds Brown, praised those who spoke out, but said many of their concerns had been addressed in a bill the city needed.

The excessive criminalization of Philadelphia's young people has only pushed them toward flash mobs and other violent activities. Instead of responding with more criminalization - such as the city curfews instituted last summer - officials should be encouraging structured play, public spaces, and harmless social gatherings. Recent years have seen a decline in public spaces available to young people, Love Park being a famous example. As the city planner Edmund Bacon once wrote, "After decrying the drugs and crime of our young people, [City Council]

THE OCCUPATION came to City Council yesterday. Members of Occupy Philadelphia left their Dilworth Plaza encampment to join with dozens of people who are taking a stand against the latest city curfew bill, which stalled yesterday. The bill, introduced by Councilwoman Blondell Reynolds Brown on behalf of the Nutter administration, follows temporary changes that the city made to curfew laws over the summer to address acts of violence committed by groups of young people. "Who's the curfew protecting?"