Look Out, Kids! Because Starting Next School Year, There's a Daytime Curfew!

Moments ago, the Dallas City Council voted on the 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.daytime curfew ordinance -- and, not surprisingly, it passed almost overwhelmingly, by a vote of 12-2. The vote was taken shortly after Mayor Tom Leppert stressed that the ordinance (which you can read here, beginning on Page...

By Robert Wilonsky

May 13, 2009

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Moments ago, the Dallas City Council voted on the 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.daytime curfew ordinance -- and, not surprisingly, it passed almost overwhelmingly, by a vote of 12-2. The vote was taken shortly after Mayor Tom Leppert stressed that the ordinance (which you can read here, beginning on Page 63) is not "trying to address the issue of kids staying in school," which, far as he's concerned, remains an issue for the Dallas Independent School District. The city will "do all we can do to support public education, [but] the fact we've had 1,900 kids picked up and put in truancy says more than I could say that what we have today isn't working."

Voting against the ordinance were Carolyn Davis and Sheffie Kadane, who'd earlier made their intentions clear. Angela Hunt was not present.

Incidentally, just before the vote was taken, Ron Natinsky noted the kids in the audience who had come to City Hall to voice their opposition to the ordinance. He suggested their respective teachers give them an A today for coming downtown and getting a lesson "in government and civics." Said the District 12 rep, "Maybw we'll find some of these kids down here in the horseshoe 15, 20 years from now."

To which an audience member responded, quite loudly, "I hope so! I hope so!"

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