Mayor Aftab Pureval has called a special meeting of Cincinnati City Council for July 23 to discuss ways to reduce crime in Cincinnati, particularly in Over-the-Rhine and Downtown.
Pureval is calling the nine City Council members back from their summer recess in July to tackle the crime issue.
One of the potential strategies will be stepping up enforcement of the city’s curfew, Pureval said at a press conference July 22.
The city has a 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. curfew for unaccompanied people under the age of 16 and midnight to 5 a.m. for people age 16-18. Enforcement of the curfew is tricky, Pureval said.
“The curfew is absolutely on the table and a tool that we can deploy,” Pureval said. “Obviously there’s a lot of logistical challenges with detaining kids, holding them until their parents can pick them up, or until they can be transported home.”
City eyes restrictions on youth
The meeting will be at noon in council chambers, 801 Plum St.
In addition to the curfew, City Council will discuss putting more restrictions on when youth can be in parks and the Banks entertainment complex, as well as ways to increase police visibility, according to Pureval and other members of City Council.
“I think it’s important to have a public opportunity for council members to ask questions, tough questions, and really provide a pressure test on strategies that we’re deploying,” Pureval said. “And I can speak for the chief and the city manager that would welcome that kind of scrutiny, and this is an all-hands-on-deck situation.”
Is crime up or down in Cincinnati?
The June 4 stabbing death of Over-the-Rhine gym owner and resident Patrick Heringer in his home has increased concerns about crime in the city. His wife, Sarah Heringer, has called for reforms on how Cincinnati addresses violent crime.
Violent crime across the city is down about 3% compared to last year, police data revealed on Tuesday showed. The number of shooting victims is down 25% from three years ago.
But overall crime, which includes nonviolent property crimes, is up 46% in Over-the-Rhine and Downtown, including a 12% uptick in violent crime, according to police statistics.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: City Council will discuss curfew enforcement, other restrictions for youth to deter crime
Reporting by Scott Wartman, Cincinnati Enquirer / Cincinnati Enquirer
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