CBS News: Detroit Mayor Mary Sheffield says city will address downtown teen takeovers:
After several incidents in which large groups of teenagers took over downtown Detroit, city leaders say they are developing a plan to address it.
. . .
While there is some perception that Detroit officials and the Detroit Police Department have been somewhat silent on the issue of these downtown takeovers, since these events began, Detroit Mayor Mary Sheffield says a lot is happening behind the scenes to ensure that these takeovers don't get out of control.
"It's a comprehensive, interdepartmental, all-hands-on-deck approach to assure that we're addressing the needs of our young people," Sheffield said.
In a one-on-one interview with CBS News Detroit on Wednesday at DPD headquarters, Sheffield says the social media trend is top-of-mind with city officials, police and community intervention groups. Sheffield says the city is taking a holistic approach to addressing the issue and believes it's also an opportunity to serve the youth.
"We didn't experience what other cities did as far as safety," Sheffield said. "Kids came out; they wanted to hang out; they wanted a place for something to do. So we're trying to make sure that we're addressing that need of making sure that young people have a safe space to be occupied and engaged throughout the upcoming summer months."
The response from the teens in addition to continued takeovers, some fights and a shooting clearly has taken this strong and unambiguous message to heart:
Deandrae Morgan said he plans to continue organizing Detroit "teen takeovers," despite Detroit police officers asking him last week to remove social media posts calling for young people to congregate downtown during a weekend that saw one peaceful gathering and another marred by a nonfatal shooting and brawls involving hundreds of combatants.
Compare Detroit's wishy-washy response to that of Mayor of Pontiac and Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard when a Teen Takeover was threatened for Pontiac:
ClickonDetroit: Teen takeover gatherings spread to Pontiac, prompting safety warnings following Detroit chaos
Similar unpermitted gatherings are now being advertised on social media in Pontiac.
Mayor Mike McGuinness said Pontiac officials and the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office moved quickly after seeing one such event promoted online Friday.
“If folks are looking to get crazy or act up, Pontiac, Michigan, ain’t the place,” McGuinness said.
McGuinness said deputies were stationed “at every major intersection in downtown Pontiac” as a precaution this past Friday.
Result: No teen takeover and no mass teen violence in Pontiac.
Funny how enforcing the law and not putting up with disorder and crime works.
