Raleigh has not yet formally ruled out a proposed curfew for those under 18, despite recent reports indicating that the City Council was no longer looking to move forward with the measure.
Mayor Janet Cowell clarified the situation during a talk organized by Enlace Latino NC On Thursday, September 17, one day after local media reported that the Council had decided to abandon the proposal.
“We haven’t made any decisions,” Cowell said during the forum.
“I think there are many reasons why we need to think about curfews carefully, because we discovered, when we delved into this issue, that there is still much to learn,” he added.
Cowell explained that the next step will be a community conversation on October 12, after which the Council will determine the course of action. the proposal.
In a subsequent statement, The city confirmed that the Council will not vote on the ordinance until after that event. Community comments will be collected and presented to the Council at a later date.
Why did some media outlets report that Raleigh would abandon its curfew?
The mayor also acknowledged that the coverage in various media outlets had generated confusion.
Some reports described an agreement among the Council members not to proceed with the proposal.
The News & Observer reported on September 16 that council members had agreed to drop the measure, according to councilwoman Christina Jones. WRAL reported that same day that council members were no longer seeking to move forward with the curfew, though it noted that there had not yet been a formal vote.
However, the mayor clarified that no decision has been made yet. She explained that the council still wants to hear from the community before determining its next steps.
What the ordinance proposes
The proposal for a curfew for minors under 18 arose after the incidents that occurred during the July 4th weekend, when thousands of young people gathered in areas such as Glenwood South and Brier Creek.
In August, the City Council discussed a proposed ordinance that would have established a curfew for minors under the age of 18 between 11 pm and 5 am in public spaces.
The text included exceptions for certain circumstances, including activities related to work, school, religious services, and emergencies.
The council did not approve the proposal. Instead, it decided to continue analyzing the issue and receive feedback from the community before making a decision.
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The next step will be in October.
The city will hold the event “Not Just a Curfew: Bridging Gaps for Teens and the Community” October 12 at 5 pm at the Five Points Center for Active Adults.
The activity seeks to receive feedback from young people and other members of the community on the topic.
After the event, the comments will be presented to the City Council, which will then decide how to proceed with the proposal.
Until then, Raleigh does not have a new approved curfew for minors and has not formally ruled out the proposal either.
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