Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.
Issue link: http://www.epageflip.net/i/1507527
4 UCW SEPTEMBER 13-19, 2023 WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM Youth curfews have been a topic of debate for decades. While some may think curfews have some value and benefit, there are many reasons why they are considered unhealthy for the community of Fayetteville. is publication agrees with City Councilmen Hondros and Benavente that the plan by Fayetteville Police Chief Kemberle Braden on implementing a youth curfew is not well thought out and only serves as a diversion from addressing the real crime problem. From our perspective, curfews are trying to do what parents are failing to do and are a violation of young people's rights. It inhibits their freedom of movement and association with their peers, which is essential for natural personal development. It also can lead to subjective and unnecessary criminalization of young people and actually introduce them to the criminal justice system for minor violations. en you have the racial and socioeconomic disparities that will undoubtedly become an issue as the curfews disproportionately affect low-income minority neighborhoods. And, what about the effect curfews could have on young people's social lives, and how will it affect those with late-night jobs? Basically, I think curfews will only exacerbate the problem. With restrictions on nighttime movement and activities, young people could feel persecuted, causing them to rebel, leading to more crime, violence, and complex mental health issues. e Fayetteville-Cumberland County community (law enforcement and elected officials) should not embrace punitive measures but spend more time doing their jobs and addressing the underlying causes of local youth crime and delinquency, such as lack of policing, scarce recreational job opportunities, poverty, and dysfunctional family issues. Chief Kemberle Braden is doing a decent job with the resources he has. He needs more. Instituting laws to remedy conditions and situations that local law enforecement fails to control is NOT the answer. Sensible alternatives to addressing local youth crime in Fayetteville are within their purview, but youth curfews are not the answer. I will close with this sentiment : the child's behavior is the parent's responsibility. If an underage child is apprehended breaking the law, the negligent parents (or parent) need to be held responsible. Fayetteville car thefts, gun violence, and property crimes can only be curbed through effective law enforcement and social reforms. Crime reduction cannot be legislated. ank you for reading Up & Coming Weekly. STAFF PUBLISHER Bill Bowman Bill@upandcomingweekly.com OPERATIONS DIRECTOR Paulette Naylor accounting@upandcomingweekly.com MANAGING EDITOR Renee Holtz editor@upandcomingweekly.com ASSISTANT EDITOR Aly Hensen assistanteditor@upandcomingweekly.com ART DIRECTOR Courtney Sapp-Scott art@upandcomingweekly.com GRAPHIC DESIGNER Isaiah Jones graphics@upandcomingweekly.com STAFF WRITERS Hannah Lee, Katrina Wilson, Carrie Jackson, Amber Little CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Pitt Dickey, John Hood, Rep. Richard Hudson, MARKETING ASSOCIATE Linda McAlister linda@upandcomingweekly.com SALES ASSISTANT Sheila D. Barker salesassistant@upandcomingweekly.com COVER Cover design by Courtney Sapp-Scott Image courtesy The Arts Council Up & Coming Weekly www.upandcomingweekly.com 208 Rowan St. P.O. Box 53461 Fayetteville, NC 28305 PHONE: 910-484-6200 FAX: 910-484-9218 Up & Coming Weekly is a "Quality of Life" publication with local features, news and information on what's happening in and around the Fayetteville/Cumberland County community. Published weekly on Wednesdays, Up & Coming Weekly welcomes manuscripts, photographs and artwork for publication consideration, but assumes no responsibility for them. We cannot accept responsibility for the return of unsolicited manuscripts or material. Opinions expressed by contributors do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher. The publisher reserves the right to edit or reject copy submitted for publication. Up & Coming Weekly is free of charge and distributed at indoor and outdoor locations throughout Fayetteville, Fort Bragg, Pope Army Airfield, Hope Mills and Spring Lake. Readers are limited to one copy per person. © 2020-2023 by F&B Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction or use of editorial or advertisements without permission is strictly prohibited. Various ads with art graphics designed with elements from: vecteezy.com and freepik.com. Association of Community Publishers BILL BOWMAN, Publisher. COMMENTS? BILL@upandcomingweekly.com. 910-484-6200. PUBLISHER'S PEN Youth Curfews: A desperate move for a significant problem. by BILL BOWMAN Letters to the Editor Do YOU have something to say? We want YOU to be heard! We want EVERYONE to be able to voice their opinions on current community events. Let us be a place to start much needed conversations. ALL VOICES WELCOMED! EMAIL: editor@upandcomingweekly.com CALL: 910-484-6200 Image by _susan_lee_ via IstockPhoto