The Eastdale Mall in Montgomery has become the latest to institute a ban on kids under 18 on Friday and Saturday nights after 6pm.
It is hardly a new issue. Twenty years ago a mall in Asheville, North Carolina, started requiring adults be with teens on weekend nights.
And Eastdale is certainly aware that a perception of young thugs running rampant at the old Montgomery Mall contributed to its downfall.
Yet the policy does raise questions about the rights of children, It gathers people in a class by their age and paints them as troublemakers.
Could Eastdale refuse to let people over 80 in if they found their wandering around to be detrimental to attracting wealthier and younger customers?
The New York (paywall) Times reported in 1996 that the ACLU opposed a teen curfew at The Mall of America, but there wasn't a peep from anyone this week when Eastdale announced its policy.
It is hardly a new issue. Twenty years ago a mall in Asheville, North Carolina, started requiring adults be with teens on weekend nights.
And Eastdale is certainly aware that a perception of young thugs running rampant at the old Montgomery Mall contributed to its downfall.
 |
| The long-empty Montgomery Mall |
Could Eastdale refuse to let people over 80 in if they found their wandering around to be detrimental to attracting wealthier and younger customers?
The New York (paywall) Times reported in 1996 that the ACLU opposed a teen curfew at The Mall of America, but there wasn't a peep from anyone this week when Eastdale announced its policy.
Different issue, Tim. First, anyone below 18 is not an adult and thus parental(or other adult) controls are appropriate.
ReplyDeleteWhy not let 13 year olds drive cars, or semi trucks?
Teenagers WILL be allowed in Eastdale Mall. The condition is that they have to be accompanied by an adult.
You're right about Montgomery Mall. It had become a dangerous place, driving out customers and eventually the businesses.