by Cara McClain

Kansas City officials and police implemented a curfew for all young people under the age of 18 Friday.

After 9 p.m., teenagers cannot dine, watch movies, visit with friends or walk around the Westport, Plaza, downtown, Zona Rosa or 18th and Vine areas unaccompanied by adults. City officials added this new ordinance in response to the violence at the Plaza last weekend where three people were shot.

As the number of teens roaming around Kansas City’s famous shopping district grew this summer, so did the apparent discomfort with some of the Plaza’s older patrons. The growing fear of the crowds of young people culminated after the shooting last weekend.

These young people appeared like mysterious, horrifying monsters to some of the older people at the Plaza. No one could accurately say how large the group was, adding to the fear. They could cover much of the Plaza’s territory, posing a threat around every corner. They even spoke in the foreign language of social media to meet up and conspire together.

So obviously, these teenagers were congregating with the sole purpose of wrecking havoc on the Plaza.

While some have tritely argued this as a race issue (and on some levels it is for sure), primarily the problem we’re facing has been doused with a heavy helping of ageism.

With this new ordinance, these lawmakers isolate teens, labeling them as dangerous and inhibiting their freedom. This ordinance justifies judging all groups of teenagers as untrustworthy troublemakers. Even the backward way some have defended the curfew, saying it’s for their own good (read through the comment section), displays unfair ideas about teenagers. Now not only are they criminals, teenagers can’t make proper decisions for themselves. While some may not be at that maturity level yet, categorizing all teenagers that way is unfair and offensive.

The businesses that these teenagers frequent will lose out in this situation as well. It’s not worth it to plan to go to any of these areas, eyes glued to the clock the whole time, fearing every security guard around the corner. It does not make for an enjoyable evening. Teenagers will break the habit of going there, and these areas will lose some of their paying customers.

Furthermore, this curfew operates under the assumption that crime happens only at a certain time, with certain age groups and during certain seasons. As an effort to end crime in Kansas City, the curfew narrows to prevent crime after 9 p.m. that teenagers commit during the summer (the curfew is extended during the fall, winter and spring).

This curfew won’t help prevent crime and violence among teens because it doesn’t address why it happens, only the when and where. Crime can happen anywhere, at any time and at any season of the year. Assuming otherwise is not only ridiculous and naive, but will just increase crime in other areas of the city. Would Kansas Citians give this kind of attention if the same kind of violence happened in a less public or commercial place than the Plaza? It does almost daily, giving the police plenty to deal with. This curfew wastes our police officers’ time and energy while more legitimate crime occurs in Kansas City.

Area community centers have also responded to the violence at the Plaza, extending their hours to entice teens to spend their weekend nights there. While a nice thought, I can hardly imagine very many teens taking them up on their offer. Instead, the city should think about providing entertainment districts safe for teenagers to enjoy, unlike our current ones, filled with bars and clubs.

Provide legitimately entertaining locations for teenagers to hang out if you don’t want them around yours. More importantly, allow for all ages to enjoy all of Kansas City. Stop regulating what type of people can go to certain areas. Address why the violence happened at the Plaza, listening to teenagers’ input. Drop the curfew, and trust teenagers a little more.