Those who claim crime is not a problem at the few remaining malls in Montgomery County were dealt a blow of reality today, as Westfield announced it will implement a restrictive 3:00 PM curfew for unaccompanied minors at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda and Wheaton Plaza starting September 28. Once in effect, the new policy will require any mall patron under 18 to be accompanied by a parent or supervising adult after 3:00 PM, seven days a week. Those not in compliance will be escorted from the premises by security or Montgomery County police. Supervising adults may be asked for identification with a valid I.D.
Westfield says the hours and specifics of the new policy can be changed at any time, and that it may adjust the hours of enforcement during the holiday shopping season. It also says that supervising adults will be held responsible for the behavior and actions of the juveniles under their supervision, suggesting legal liability potential for the type of assaults and shoplifting incidents that have been taking place at the property in recent years.
This curfew sadly punishes the majority of minors who lawfully engage in the All-American tradition of hanging out at the mall. It will certainly cost mall tenants financially. That dovetails with another disappointing trend: Massive international corporations like Westfield and Giant parent Ahold declining to publicly condemn pro-criminal elected officials, and put their considerable financial resources toward electing alternative leaders, and instead implementing policies that punish all customers, such as locking up items or crippling self-checkouts. Montgomery County and Maryland's weak juvenile crime policies - and weak willed business responses - seem to put criminals in charge of our community, rather than holding them accountable. The new curfew policy was first reported by The MoCo Show.
2 comments:
That last paragraph is a real HOOT! Way to go Einstein, first thing, you can't have your cake and eat it too. Either you stop all juveniles or none. Your method is like Spot Zoning, not equal. Although I'm seeing the ulterior, klandestine motive you're pushing. Westfield is simply practicing what works in a neighboring jurisdiction, to protect their investments.
If you have other ideas for solving a problem that is not germain to MoCo, perhaps you should tell us what you really think.
What's "a real hoot" about a weak juvenile justice system that isn't deterring criminal activity? Ask the business people who are losing money, or the victims who go to the emergency room after being assaulted how hilarious it is.
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