CH expands exceptions to curfew law

Cleveland Heights City Council unanimously voted to implement changes to the Minors’ Curfew ordinance at the regularly scheduled council meeting on July 5.

The amendments, intended to make the curfew law less restrictive after council designated the Coventry Village and Cedar Lee business districts as Special Curfew Areas six days earlier, expand the Curfew Exceptions clause in the ordinance.

Youths are now allowed to travel to and from school or religious activities, and attend public entertainment, under parental authorization. They may exercise their First Amendment rights, e.g. right of assembly, if so authorized by their parents and with permission from the police chief 24 hours in advance.

The ordinance already allowed exceptions for minors who were accompanied by an adult relative. They may now perform errands or legitimate business, such as going to the library, after 6 p.m., with parental authorization. They may go to and from their jobs, but must carry written authorization from a parent or employer stating location of the job and hours of employment.

In addition, the ordinance now gives the city’s director of public safety the power to declare Temporary Special Curfew Areas if there is sufficient reason to believe that a flash mob that threatens the general welfare is being planned somewhere in the city.

"This will in all likelihood not be the last change," said Kenneth Montlack, council member and chair of the pubic safety and health committee, after introducing the resolution.

Addressing the more than 20 teenagers and young adults in attendance, he likened the situation to enhanced security at airports, in which everyone’s actions are restricted, even those who do not cause trouble. "Our intent is not to try and punish any youth," he said. "Our intent is to protect the safety and security of the community."

"We have a responsibility . . . to provide you with the safest city possible," Mayor Edward Kelley said. He further noted that most of the youth responsible for causing problems in recent weeks are from other cities.

"We took to heart your concerns," Council Member Cheryl Stephens said. Exceptions for the library and controlled-admission recreation venues came after Nancy Levin, director of Heights Libraries, and Kathy Blackman, owner of the Grog Shop, had expressed concern about the curfew preventing teens from coming to library events and youth-oriented concerts, respectively.

John Nelson, co-leader of the Youth of Coventry, a group of local teens and young adults who have been lobbying council to help clean up Coventry Village since the disturbance at the Coventry Street Fair on June 26. He thanked the city officials for their quick and responsive actions, but said their ignorance of social media was hindering their ability to understand and respond to flash mobs. "You guys are not able to immediately understand what’s going on," he said.

Nelson proposed an idea for a committee to help the city form a better social media strategy and reach out to Cleveland Heights youth. Council Member Bonnie Caplan said she would take him up on his offer. "We don’t know how to use it like you know how to use it," she said.

Matthew Reed, another member of the Youth of Coventry, said the Special Curfew was already making a tangible impact. Commenting on a visit to Coventry Village since the curfew was enacted, Reed said, "We looked down the street, and all we see is families." Reed added that he still had reservations about the strictness of the law, "I just think six o’clock is kind of early."

Dominique Davis, a rising sophomore at Cleveland Heights High School, told council that there is a perception problem with the curfew. The majority of Heights kids did not attend the council meetings where the measures were discussed, she said, and "they don’t fully understand every little detail and description of this ordinance."

Davis said she was upset when she first heard about the Special Curfew. "I felt like my rights were being taken away." She felt better, however, once she understood what it was for. If the city officials did a better job of making their reasoning public, "not that many teens would have a problem with it," she said.

Acting Judge Russell Baron, who has lived a few blocks from Coventry Village for 47 years, expressed optimism. He said he has seen the area "come up and go down and go up again. And it’s up."

"You guys know what you’re doing, that’s for sure," Baron told council. The audience applauded when Baron noted the diversity of the Youth of Coventry and announced, "They represent our city."

"The city made a very wise decision to listen to the community," said Steve Presser, owner of Big Fun. The new measures are better, he said, but "it will continue to be a work in progress; there’s no right answer."