Bowser shreds DC Council for rejecting juvenile curfew bill
The article reports on an incident in Washington, D.C., where Mayor Muriel Bowser strongly criticized the D.C. Council for initially rejecting a bill to extend juvenile curfew zones. The bill, supported by Bowser and introduced by Councilwoman Brooke Pinto, aimed to address youth violent crime by extending curfew hours-from midnight to 11 p.m.-for those under 18, and allowing police to set special curfew zones with an 8 p.m. curfew. Some council members opposed the bill, arguing it could lead to racial profiling and be misused by federal law enforcement agents.After the initial rejection and a subsequent recess following a call-likely from Bowser-the council agreed to reconsider the bill, though Pinto later withdrew it temporarily. Bowser condemned the council’s initial refusal as “shockingly irresponsible,” emphasizing concerns about rising youth violence in the city.
Bowser shreds DC Council for rejecting juvenile curfew bill
Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser bashed the Council of the District of Columbia for initially rejecting a bill establishing juvenile curfew zones.
An unusual series of events unfolded in the D.C. Council on Tuesday over a bill to extend special juvenile curfew zones. The Bowser-supported bill, introduced to curb epidemic violent youth crime, was initially rejected by the council. Then the council went on recess for a closed-door meeting where they received calls from Bowser, revived the bill, and ultimately put off a final decision, the Washington Post reported.
Bowser gave her reaction to the initial rejection, voicing rage at the “shockingly irresponsible.”
“We spent a couple of months with marauding teenagers — I mean literally taking over different locations — & to send the message that we want to go back to that level of mayhem is irresponsible,” she said, the Washington Post’s Meagan Flynn reported.
The legislation in question was introduced by Democratic Councilwoman Brooke Pinto and would extend through December an extended curfew that would be implemented at 11 p.m. instead of the usual midnight and apply to everyone under the age of 18 rather than the usual 17. It also gave police the authority to designate special curfew zones where juveniles wouldn’t be allowed past 8 p.m.
Several councilmembers protested, alleging it was racist and could be used by federal police deployed by President Donald Trump.
“I’m afraid extending the provision will be used as a pretext to target Black and Brown youth, who are already being targeted in this moment,” Democratic Councilwoman Janeese Lewis George said, according to the outlet.
Pinto countered by claiming that the measure was actually intended to protect young criminals from federal agents.
“I worry not acting exposes our young people to more of the possibility for federal overreach. This is really a preventive, protective measure to make sure there’s a tool in place so we don’t have groups of federal agents coming up on groups of young people in a way that would be counterproductive,” she said.
The bill was initially blocked after five members — independent Christina Henderson and Democrats Lewis George, Brianne K. Nadeau, and Robert C. White Jr., as well as the controversial, formerly expelled Trayon White — all voted against. A supermajority of the council’s 13 members is required to vote in favor of an emergency bill to pass.
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Right after the vote was held, D.C. Council Chairman Phil Mendelson received a call while presiding over the meeting. Most assume the caller was Bowser, though he declined to say. He called a recess soon after the call.
When the lawmakers returned, they agreed to rehear Pinto’s bill, though she then withdrew it for the time being.
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