Overview
- The D.C. Council postponed the decision Tuesday, leaving the emergency youth curfew set to expire on April 15 with a new vote planned later in April.
- Mayor Muriel Bowser blasted the delay and said she may declare a public safety emergency to keep curfew powers in place during the gap.
- The temporary law bars anyone under 18 from public places from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. and lets police create curfew zones that block groups of nine or more after 8 p.m. in areas like Navy Yard, U Street, Chinatown, and the Wharf.
- Extending the emergency measure needs nine council votes while passing a permanent version needs seven, and several members question the policy’s value and favor more youth services.
- City leaders point to a March 14 Navy Yard gathering where a gun was fired and robberies were reported with two teens arrested, and the Bowser team says 19 zones were used in eight months with no arrests inside those areas.