When something as alarming as the recently passed “daytime curfew ordinance” happens in my hometown, it reminds me why I moved to SF. The daytime curfew allows for anyone under the age of 18 to be subjected to a “search and seizure” by the RPD if found in a public place between the hours of 8am and 1pm.
OK, so truancy rates are high, and public schools aren’t getting the ADA they need in order to maintain the fine establishments that they are, but is it necessary to divert law enforcement resources in order to hunt these “delinquents” down? Is Senior Ditch Day going to turn into a big paddy-wagon roundup?
It is the responsibility of the parents and schools to ensure attendance. Why send the po-po on a city wide kid-hunt when truancy records are staring school administrators in the face? Have we really passed the point when parents are no longer have the right to discipline their own children? And what about the rights of our youths? Any student following an less- conventional education path (early graduation, homeschooling, college-connection, etc.) will be forced to carry “proof” of their “right” to be “on the streets” during the day.
The whole mess is far too close to fascism for my comfort.
Thanks, Erin Friedman for your letter to the editor.
Kiira Alessandra 