KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Public Safety and Emergency Services Committee of the city council listened to testimony regarding extending the city’s current curfew. The current curfew, which runs from Memorial day to Labor day, was put in place after three teens were shot on the Plaza in August of 2011. Just two weeks ago, police arrested a dozen teenagers after fights broke out on the Plaza.
Council members want to study police statistics on arrests and finances before they make any decision. There were concerns that out of 34 arrests from June to December last year, 100 percent were African American and they don’t want this to become a race issue.
Councilman John Sharp is concerned that a majority of teenagers will be punished for what a small percentage actually do. Sharp says there won’t be a decision any time soon.
Jan Marcason is sponsoring the change to the curfew because she says the five entertainment districts are all in favor of it.
“We want to prevent that,” Jan Marcason said, “and we want all our areas to feel safe and i think it’s a reasonable expectation that young people are not in a commercial district after 9 o’clock unless they’re purchasing dinner or with their family.”
