* WARNING: THIS IS AN UNOFFICIAL, INTRODUCTORY COPY OF THE BILL.
THE OFFICIAL COPY CONSIDERED BY THE CITY COUNCIL IS THE FIRST READER COPY.
INTRODUCTORY*
CITY OF BALTIMORE
COUNCIL BILL R
(Resolution)
Introduced by: Councilmember Conaway
A RESOLUTION ENTITLED
A COUNCIL RESOLUTION concerning
Title
Pilot Program - Recreation Centers During the Summer
FOR the purpose of requesting that the City of Baltimore develop a pilot program for this Summer, to keep certain recreation centers in Baltimore City open past curfew in order to provide young people who otherwise would be breaking curfew law a safe place to go at night during the summer months.
Body
Recitals
According to the nighttime curfew laws, no minor may remain in a public place or any establishment between the hours of 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. on weekdays and 12 a.m. and 6 a.m. on weekends. In Article 19 §34-3 of the Baltimore City Code there is an exception that reads as follows:
attending or, without any detour or stop, going to or returning from an official school,
religious, or other recreational activity supervised by adults and sponsored by the City
of Baltimore, a civic organization, or another similar entity that takes responsibility for
the minor.
This exception provides an opportunity of which we should take full advantage. The fact is that many children do not have enough activities during the summer months to occupy their time, and they find themselves spending time on public streets after curfew hours. Many times parents work at night and are unable to supervise their children at all times.
Fortunately, we have many recreational centers throughout our City that can be used to help solve this problem. If these recreation centers were to stay open later into the night, then these children would have a supervised place to go and spend their summer evenings. This program would not only help children remain safe and off City streets, but would also provide more summer work hours for those older students and recreation center employees who wish to earn extra money over the summer months.
The most important issue is that our children remain safe over the course of the summer months when they need more evening stimulation due to the fact that they do not have wake up early for school the next day. If we can provide extended recreation center hours, then we would not only know where our children were spending their time, but also who they were with and what they were doing. With young children spending time on the streets and curfew laws consistently being violated, it is more important than ever that we take action and make certain that the youth in our communities have proper community resources available to provide educational and entertaining activities during the later evening hours of the long summer nights, and that we further the decrease of curfew violations that currently burden our police department.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF BALTIMORE, That this Body requests that a pilot program be developed for this Summer, to keep certain recreation centers in Baltimore City open past curfew in order to provide young people who otherwise would be breaking curfew law a safe place to go at night during the summer months.
AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be sent to the Mayor, the Department of Recreation and Parks, the Baltimore City Police, and the Mayor's Legislative Liaison to the Council.
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