DC Council votes to extend emergency youth curfew - WTOP News

On Tuesday, the D.C. Council approved emergency legislation to bring back the summer juvenile curfew, setting it at 11 p.m. for anyone under 18 years old. This curfew will be in place for 90 days, and police are also authorized to establish specific curfew zones where the start time can be even earlier. Council member Brooke Pinto introduced the measure, describing it as a preventive tool that gives police the ability to act when they get word of planned fights or trouble involving large groups of young people in certain neighborhoods. Pinto emphasized that this curfew aims to stop such incidents before they happen. Council members acknowledged, however, that the curfew is just a temporary fix and not a long-term solution. They stressed the need for greater investments in programs that support youth, such as mentorship, job opportunities, and mental health resources. Pinto noted that while the curfew won’t solve every challenge, it’s one positive step among many efforts to protect young people and keep communities safe. The decision to reinstate the curfew follows a chaotic Halloween night in D.C.’s Navy Yard, where crowds of teenagers blocked traffic and ignored police orders. Several fights broke out and multiple teens were arrested before the police managed to clear the area around 11 p.m. This incident heightened concerns about youth behavior and public safety in the city. Not all council members were on board with the curfew. Robert White voted against it, arguing that it doesn’t address the root problems and could lead to racial profiling. White expressed concern that the curfew might further alienate young people, making them feel less engaged and connected to the community. Janeese Lewis George also voted no, citing increased federal law enforcement presence in the city and the fears it’s causing among her constituents. She criticized the curfew for potentially escalating surveillance and policing of youth rather than helping them. Council member Christina Henderson supported the curfew but highlighted the need for a broader, more comprehensive strategy to keep young people safe. She questioned where youth are supposed to go and how they can be encouraged to engage in their communities in a positive way. After the summer curfew expired, Mayor Muriel Bowser reported a resurgence in disruptive behavior and pushed for making the curfew permanent. She had already implemented an emergency curfew after the Halloween incidents, which lasted through November 5. The council’s recent vote extends that emergency measure, hoping to curb problematic behavior while longer-term solutions are developed. Linh Bui, the reporter behind this story, brings years of experience covering regional news and currently teaches at the University of Maryland. Her background includes anchoring and reporting roles in Baltimore, Florida, and Georgia, lending a well-rounded perspective to this coverage.