MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Memphis Mayor A C Wharton said implementing some of the Juvenile Court Judge’s plan to fight youth violence may be delayed until the city council makes a small adjustment to the city’s curfew.
WREG was the first to tell you about the five-point plan.
At Mayor Wharton’s town hall meeting Monday, he took a lot of questions about crime.
Maria Tate from Whitehaven was just one of the many parents demanding to know what the city is doing to stop youth violence.
“If we don’t get our children somewhat involved in some type of something, they are going to be in our back yards robbing us,” said Tate.
She said the city needs to act quickly as more children fall victim to crime.
On Halloween, an eight-year-old boy was shot.
Mayor Wharton told parents he is designing a battle plan that includes expanding and creating youth programs that include community service, mentoring and getting kids ready for college and the workforce.
He also talked about building a parenting center.
He wouldn’t give WREG many details. Just that it will be a place where parents can get help raising their kids.
“We have to step in and say if you don’t know how; we are going to make sure you learn. You aren’t going to use that as an excuse,” said Mayor Wharton.
Mayor Wharton said he also wants to make the city’s curfew stricter for 17 and 18-year olds by requiring they be home by 11:30 on Sunday night instead of midnight.
“There isn’t much going on that late at night on a Sunday night. Plus, they ought to be in school on time on Monday mornings,” said Wharton.
Those teens who violate curfew will be taken to a community center, so they can stay safe until their parents pick them up.
Mayor Wharton said he won’t open the centers until the curfew and the plan passes in city council.
While people working with him on the plan said that could delay the centers from opening, the mayor disagrees.
“If we don’t get the hours changed then it wouldn’t make sense to talk about opening up the centers,” said Mayor Wharton.
Those at Monday’s meeting just want change before another child gets hurt.
Mayor Wharton said he will finish his plan in the next couple weeks, and then will be able to provide more details.
He hopes to present everything to the council in about a month. He is confident the council will pass the new curfew.
