by Richard Gleeson
Northern News Services

NNSL (Oct 24/97) - Looking to youth as a resource, not targeting them for a curfew, is the solution to problems of youth violence, truancy and vandalism, teen and adult residents said at a recent meeting on city violence.

"Why should we target youth when there are drunk adults stumbling in alleyways," said Sir John Franklin high school student council president Jennifer Sharman. "Maybe an adult curfew is what we need."

Others at the public meeting acknowledged adults are responsible for most of the crime in the city.

Cathy Allooloo, who supports a curfew, was one of those who noted youth account for a low percentage of street crimes. She said stopping crime was never the purpose of a curfew.

"I think it will help kids get home at a decent hour so they can get a good night's sleep and be ready for school," said Allooloo.

Proponents of a youth curfew found little support this night.

"In my home we don't have a curfew imposed by police or the city," said Peggy Near. "It's imposed by me and my husband, and violating it means being grounded the following weekend."

Teacher Michelle Toms passed along a thought on curfews she said she got from her students.

"By instituting a curfew, we're going to be sending a lot of kids home to an unsafe environment," said Toms. "An eight year-old is on the street at two in the morning because his parents are at home, if they are at home, drunk."

Lorne McKiel said relying on youth would make for speedier results.

"When you have elected officials in charge of something like this it's a lot like breeding elephants -- there's a lot of hooting and hollering but it's two years before you see any results."

By way of illustration, McKiel pointed out that if driven by politicians the process would be delayed by a sequence of factors -- the appointment of a new council, Christmas and the 1998 budget.

Sharman also called into question the effectiveness of adult-organized solutions.

"I've been to so many workshops and I have no idea where the suggestions have gone," said Sharman. "It's important we are involved in decision-making and, once we are involved, it's important what we've said is heard."

As a result of the calls for more youth involvement, Ald. Merlyn Williams changed the composition of a sub-committee that will develop an action plan addressing the matter.

Originally to include a single youth representative, along with representatives of other interest groups, the committee will now include a representative from each high school student council.