Columbus council debates limited Uptown curfew as businesses and police press for a tool to curb 'takeovers'

The Columbus City Council spent the bulk of its May 26 meeting debating a proposed temporary curfew for unattended minors in the Uptown entertainment district, with police and business owners urging a narrow tool to address large unsupervised gatherings and some council members and residents warning of unintended harm to low-income youth.

Deputy Chief Deon told the council the police department supports a targeted ordinance because it gives officers a proactive enforcement option they currently lack. "The point of this curfew ... is simply to take a proactive approach," he said, arguing the measure is meant to prevent large "takeover" gatherings that have required pulling specialized units into Uptown on weekend nights.

Uptown business leaders described repeated weekend "takeovers," citing incidents in which crowds overtook parking garages and, in at least one case shown to the council, a 15-year-old with a handgun. "When people are scared," said restaurateur and property-owner speakers, "customers turn away and businesses suffer." Several owners urged swift action to protect staff and customers.

Council members expressed a mix of sympathy for merchants and caution about the curfew's scope. Councilor Huff asked whether a narrow Uptown pilot should become a citywide rule, warning that moving crowds to other neighborhoods would simply shift the problem. Councilor Tucker and others pressed for more youth programming as part of any solution, noting risks that fines and court involvement could create long-term harm for young people who lack resources.

Council moved on several interim and process actions during the meeting: - Formation of a stakeholder committee to include Uptown representatives, city staff, public safety officials, juvenile-justice partners and community groups to study the ordinance and propose supports and mitigations; the committee will meet during the evaluation period. (motion approved) - Authorization for staff to identify funding options for up to 10 additional off-duty officers to patrol Uptown Fridays and Saturdays, 8 p.m.–midnight, through Labor Day; council asked staff to return with funding sources and implementation details. (motion approved) - A council motion to continue the curfew ordinance on first reading for two weeks passed; the item will return to council for further consideration on June 9 for additional public engagement and committee input. (vote: continuation approved)

Supporters argue the curfew is a narrowly targeted, time-limited tool — including a proposed sunset/review provision — intended to protect visitors, residents and merchants in a dense entertainment district that has seen large, sometimes destructive gatherings on weekend nights.

Opponents and some council members asked for clearer enforcement safeguards and alternatives, including expanded rec-center hours, youth programming, outreach to neighboring jurisdictions (many officers and youths come from nearby Alabama communities, police said), and explicit protections so that low-income residents who live in non-owner-occupied houses are not inadvertently penalized.

The council emphasized it was not choosing a single approach at the May 26 meeting. Instead it voted to allow a short, structured evaluation period with stakeholder engagement, while approving limited interim resources for Uptown safety. The committee and staff are expected to report back before the ordinance is reconsidered.

What’s next: the curfew ordinance returns to council on first reading June 9; the stakeholder committee will meet in the interim and staff will return with cost and staffing proposals for any temporary officer coverage.