Skepticism surrounding the city’s new youth curfew plan is coming from all angles.
Even city council members are expressing concern it simply won’t work.
“This is not a tool that’s going to make Baltimore City safer. It’s not a tool that’s going to go against the young folks intentionally creating unproductive activity at night and I think we have to accept that and move on,” Nick Mosby said on WBAL Radio’s C4 and Bryan Nehman show.
The youth curfew goes into effect Friday, May 26.
Those under 14 need to be off the streets by 9 p.m., youth from 14-17 can stay out until 11 p.m. on weekends, and 10 p.m. otherwise.
Youth will be asked to leave on their own or be transported by bus to one of two youth connection centers.
The city will supply food and games and attempt to locate their parents. The kids can refuse to go.
“At the end of the day if a young person decides they’re not going to go I want to remind members of the public and committee that young people are not violating criminal code so we are not forcing them to go anywhere,” Shantay Jackson said.
We reached out to the Mayor’s Office, asking the total cost associated with the youth connection centers and the buses that will transport youth to them.
According to the Mayor’s Office, the summer youth engagement strategy as a whole, which also includes music and art festivals, sports, and cookouts, has a budgeted price tag of $1,000,892.19, with agency employee salaries costing the most.
“It’s a gamble with public safety, but also with taxpayer dollars,” David Williams said.
Williams, with the Taxpayers Protection Alliance, said the city is taking a big chance.
“Here’s the problem, these centers may staff up and have a lot of food allocated which is going to cost money, and if the kids don’t agree to go to the centers this is food and money that could go to waste. There is no guarantee that these services will be utilized yet the city is going to be paying for the services,” he said.