DETROIT (WXYZ) — Today, Detroit officials held a public hearing on a potential change for the city's curfew for the annual fireworks show on June 22. Residents had a chance to comment on it during this morning's hearing for the public health and safety standing committee.
Watch Whitney Burney's report below
The proposal has drawn mixed reactions from neighbors throughout the city. In the past few months, a 16-year-old and a 14-year-old were shot in two separate gatherings.
Watch our previous coverage
And last year, a 17-year-old boy and a 22-year-old woman were shot as the annual Ford Fireworks were going off.
The annual event brings thousands of people downtown every year. City leaders are proposing to move up the curfew for all minors under 18 years old from 10 p.m. to 8 p.m., but the proposal is drawing mixed reactions from Detroiters. This curfew would be in place the night of the fireworks show until 6 a.m. the next day.
Watch public comment on the curfew in the video player below:
"We’re not saying that children are not allowed to come. They’re saying a responsible parent or guardian needs to be with them. We want to keep them safe and keep all Detroiters safe," said Commissioner Darryl Woods who serves as the Vice Chair on the Board of Police Commissioners. "It’s not going to be perfect. People will want to challenge it but the fact of the matter is, it’s a tool and a deterrent."
If passed, this proposed curfew expansion will only apply to select viewing areas in and around downtown Detroit, the riverfront and Belle Isle. City council is expected to vote on the proposed ordinance during Tuesday's full session.
The proposal vote comes amid the recent teen takeovers citywide, some of which have become violent. The current curfew, with limited exceptions for unaccompanied minors 15 and younger, is 10 p.m. Teens between 16 and 17 years old have an 11 p.m. curfew.
"DPD cannot manage this alone and we’ve learned the importance of partnership with this ordinance in place," said Assistant Chief Franklin Hayes during Monday's hearing.
Hayes says the department has considered and will be sensitive to unaccompanied teens who are traveling to and from school or work. He says they will also show extreme sensitivity to any unaccompanied teens they may encounter who are homeless.
"In order for us to enforce (the ordinance) or to inquire about that, there needs to be something that brings our attention: a crowd, a melee, people running. Just individuals passing by, just enjoying, they’re not going to get any contact with the police department," Hayes said as he explained how police would enforce the ordinance.
Although the curfew is an annual ask, this year's proposal faced quite a bit of pushback from Detroiters who were concerned about unnecessarily excluding teens and council members.
"It’s very painful for me to say that our youth can’t come down and enjoy a very important piece here," said Councilwoman Mary Waters.
"I am just not there on restricting folks from coming to an event when we could think more innovative about how do we actually engage our youth," said Councilman Denzel McCampbell.
We asked several Detroiters their thoughts on the expansion, and their reactions were mixed.
“I don’t necessarily agree with that only because it’s not dark outside in Michigan until 10 p.m. at that time. I just think maybe it should have more security restraints," said Detroit resident Jordan Bradley.
“I would prefer to see a different curfew time change or, you know, at least some type of…I don’t know, some type of backup, some type of help that they can have for those teenagers because they get out of control," said Detroit resident Amber Polk.
"I think it’s a little bit too strict because kids want to have fun, but I get the violence part. I say just more security I guess," said Malachi Berry.
"I have an 18-year-old and an 8-year-old, so I always worry about it, but as far as the overcrowd of teenagers, I just think more security, more officers," said Detroit resident Korrie Morrow. "I think safety first. I think anything to protect your child. You don’t want to lose a loved one. So if you have to be with your parents, that’s the safest way."
"I think that makes a lot of sense because everything that happened. They’ve come and destroyed it for everyone and now they need to be accompanied by an adult and I think that makes sense.
"If you know your child, they’re not going to be out in the streets all night anyway," said Phillip Berry, who believes the curfew is a bit extreme. "8 o'clock? That’s kind of crazy."
"It makes sense but then what is your definition of an adult? They could have an older cousin. What’s the age limit, you know? They know how to push the limits," said Detroit Resident Armenta Garland. "That teen takeover, I have seen it on there and it is concerning but I think as long as we have enough police patrolling, enough people watching maybe they can keep it under control. It has to be controlled, that’s the main thing."
We asked viewers to weigh in on the proposed change on Facebook, check out what they said below, you can also weigh in:
