White Marsh Mall Resists Council's Urging To Enact Curfew On Teens
WHITE MARSH, Md. (AP/WJZ) -- A Maryland mall has no plans to enact a curfew on unaccompanied teenagers, despite the urging of a county council following a fight this summer.
The Baltimore County Council unanimously passed a nonbinding resolution Monday calling on White Marsh Mall to ban unaccompanied minors on Friday and Saturday nights.
"People just don't feel as safe as they did at one time as they did at White Marsh Mall after 5 in the afternoon," said Cathy Bevins, Baltimore County Council.
Several councilmembers, including Bevins, David Marks and Todd Crandell, have been trying to convince mall management to adopt such a policy after an August fight at the mall resulted in the arrests of seven minors and two 19-year-olds.
"We don't want people to be afraid when they see 10, 15, 20 teens walking abreast where they can't get through," Bevins said.
The resolution encourages the mall to adopt the policy that's in effect at Towson Town Center, which is also owned by Brookfield Property Partners. But a Brookfield spokeswoman told The Baltimore Sun on Tuesday the company has no plans to institute a youth curfew at White Marsh.
The curfew would require anyone under 18 to be accompanied by an adult over 21 on Friday and Saturday evenings starting at 5 p.m.
Several surrounding shopping malls have a similar policy, including the Towson Town Center which is also owned by Brookfield Property Partners.
"I believe it has had a very positive effect on Towson Town Center, not only do customers feel safer, but also the employees and we need to also consider the employees along with the patrons at the mall," Marks, another council member, said.
A policy some shoppers think will also boost business.
"I know they did it in Towson and I know that it worked very well for them it kind of has limited the kids that are just running around without supervision wreaking havoc," said Paul Kirkpatrick, who lives in Baltimore County.
However, not all patrons agree it's the best option.
"Probably make them angry and make them want to come and mess up the mall, and more angrier if you take away their privilege and their right to come to the mall, they should be able to come to the mall whenever they want," said Lawrence Commodore, another Baltimore County resident.
WJZ reached out to the Mall management for comment but has not heard back, but they do have an age guidance posted on their website, encouraging anyone under 18 to be with an adult whenever they shop here, but it's not required.
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