In the discussion about a youth curfew in Iowa City, the youth have been notably absent. At least so far.
But community leaders hope to start involving teenagers in the discussion at a forum on Saturday hosted by the Iowa City Youth Advisory Commission.
The Youth Forum on Neighborhood Safety will take place from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday at City Hall, 410 E. Washington St.
The goal is to bring Iowa City’s young people into the debate on an issue that directly affects them. Mayor Regenia Bailey said that although the City Council has seen a “handful” of juveniles speak at meetings or send e-mails, the response has been far less than she anticipated.
UI freshman Zach Wahls, a West High graduate on the Youth Advisory Commission, said he’s not sure what kind of turnout to expect because this is the first such forum the group has hosted.
The group has worked with guidance counselors and student governments at local schools to encourage attendance, he said.
“We’re hoping for a lot of voices to start emerging,” he said. “Anybody is welcome to attend, but we’re really trying to focus on youth.”
Luan Heywood, a City High senior on the commission, said she’s heard discussion on the issue among her peers.
“We act as a sounding board between the youth and government,” said Heywood, noting that there has been much misinformation about the issue.
Wahls said that while the Youth Advisory Commission has come out against the proposed curfew, the event will give the panel members a chance to convey the feelings of the city’s young people as a whole to the City Council.
The proposed curfew was the impetus for the meeting, but speakers will also address neighborhood safety more generally.
The possible ordinance itself is a response to an increase in youth violence and other crime — particularly on the Southeast Side — that emerged in the spring and summer. While some residents demanded immediate action to address the issues, others vowed to organize community groups to address the problems at a grass-roots level.
After the council voted 4-3 in favor of the proposed ordinance on its first consideration, the councilors voted 5-2 on Sept. 29 to postpone further discussion of the issue until December to give community groups a chance to organize.
The event will feature three presentations: Iowa City police, neighborhood associations, and the Coalition will each present their views on the issue. Then, youth will have their turn to speak.
Youth Advisory Commission members will present the results of the forum to city officials, and Wahls hopes ideas that haven’t been proposed before emerge at the event.
