Oakland Mayor On Teen 'Loitering Law' Proposal: 'Don't Call It A Curfew'
OAKLAND (KCBS)— Oakland Mayor Jean Quan said she's working with the city's police chief on crafting what she's calling a "loitering law" that would target getting teenagers off the streets.
Quan talked about her proposed ordinance on Monday and said it could go to the City Council by the fall.
Last week Police Chief Howard Jordan said a curfew may be needed after citing juvenile crime in the city has been on the upswing. His department reported the crimes have ranged from home invasions to homicide.
Mayor Quan elaborated on why she wouldn't call it a curfew.
"It's more of a loitering ordinance that the chief and I have been talking about when I was a council member. I actually tried to author and co-sponsor a loitering ordinance," she said.
Former Police Chief Anthony Batts wanted a curfew for teens last year, but the proposed ordinance was rejected by the city council. Mayor Quan said she won't rush into this.
"We're going to go for a community process and we hope to have a proposal by the fall."
According to Quan, the ordinance would try to remove teenagers from hanging out in crime-ridden areas.
She admitted there are still many details to work out, including finding a place to take young people once they are picked up by police.
KCBS' Dave Padilla Reports:
"If you don't have a good place to take them and process them, it's a really expensive use of police officers," said Quan.
Chief Jordan has said that sometimes the suspects are no older than 12-years-old.
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