Neighbors or Nuisances?

Can teens and businesses coexist ?

LOOKING FOR SOMETHING to do after school? If you're in a small town or city, you might want to hang out with your friends downtown. But in some cities across the United States, local governments have established antiloitering laws--rules against remaining in an area with no obvious reason. Cities such as Portland, Maine, San Diego, California, and Madison, Wisconsin have all passed versions of ant/loitering laws.

Antiloitering laws are sometimes aimed at teens who gather at downtown hangouts. Teens say antiloitering laws target their age group unfairly. Local businesses, however, say teens sometimes block entry to shops and restaurants and may scare away potential customers.

`Sidewalk Ruling'

Saratoga Springs, N.Y., recently faced tiffs debate over loitering. Merchants in this city of 25,000 contacted the mayor and sought to pass an antiloitering law. The merchants hoped to prevent youths from gathering near businesses. In 1998, Saratoga Springs passed a "sidewalk ruling" barring anyone gathering downtown from blocking sidewalks or entrances to businesses.

The Saratoga Springs riding sparked a controversy. Last month a group of more than 30 teens protested in front of local businesses.

Is There a Solution?

Local teens say they are not obstructing businesses, but are merely spending t/me together. Mike Mina, a Saratoga Springs Junior High student, said, "All we do is sit. Most of us don't do anything bad."

Saratoga Springs merchants generally support the new law. Mark Baker, president of the Downtown Business Association, said, "The retail community is sensitive to ... marketing Saratoga as a community that is safe, clean, and hospitable. Anything that hampers that image ... is going to be looked at as negative."

CE recently spoke with Saratoga Springs mayor J. Michael O'Connell. O'Connell said the sidewalk ruling is a viable solution to the conflict.

"We want people of any age to feel they can gather downtown," Mayor O'Connell told Current Events. "But the measure makes sure that they do not block the public on sidewalks or entrances to local businesses."

Since the ruling was enacted about a year ago, benches that were in front of local hangouts have been removed and replaced with patches of grass. Still, no citations have been handed out and no arrests have been made as a result of the legislation.

Would you support an antiloitering law in your community?

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