Council OKs Repeal of Curfew Ordinance
The city’s new daytime curfew law appears headed for repeal. The City Council this week voted 3 to 2 for preliminary approval of a new ordinance abolishing the curfew.
The three opponents of the curfew--Mayor Tom Carroll, Councilwoman Mary Ann Jones and Councilman Tim Keenan--have said they will give final approval to the repeal ordinance at the council’s next meeting, Jan. 13. It would then become effective 30 days later.
Councilman Walter K. Bowman and Councilwoman Anna Piercy voted against repealing the curfew.
The curfew allows police to stop children who are 6 through 17 if they are suspected of being truant from school. Violators could be fined up to $25.
A cluster of curfew opponents was in the council audience this week to urge repeal of the city’s new law. The daytime curfew had been approved only last month by a majority of the old City Council.
Among those urging repeal this week was the Rev. John S. Waldrip, pastor of Calvary Road Baptist Church in Monrovia.
Waldrip noted that Monrovia, in Los Angeles County, is often cited as the model of success for the daytime curfew. But he contended that the law is badly abused in that community and that home-taught students and students at religious schools have been harassed by Monrovia police.
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