Youth Protection Ordinance

If any of my home folks are reading this, and you know who you are - please take time out to sign the internet petition that I have created to stop our City Council and local law enforcement from enacting a curfew for teenagers in our city. This curfew is touted as a protective act for children; however, there are already state laws that protect children who are endangered at any hour of the day or night. This curfew is certainly bound to be enforced more heavily in African-American dominated neighborhoods. The city has failed to provide adequate programming for teenagers in these areas and would rather enforce punitive measures than address the real need to engage children under the age of 17 in age appropropriate activities. Please don't sign this petition if you don't live in my city. The petition will be presented to City Council on June 9, 2008 when this ordinance is scheduled for a first reading. The ordinance was originally scheduled for first reading on April 28, 2008, but there was such a loud objection from the African-American community that it was post-poned. We must keep the pressure up. We must demand more from our city government. We must demand services and programming before we turn to punitive measures. Thank you, and don't forget to sign the petition - IF you live in my city.