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Young witnesses tell D.C. council: invest in late‑night centers, transport and jobs — not expanded policing
Summary
Dozens of young people and educators testified that curfew expansion risks profiling and that the city should invest in late‑night rec centers, trusted transport, year‑round programming and trauma‑informed services instead of new enforcement powers.
Scores of youth witnesses and educators told the Committee on the Judiciary and Public Safety that the city should prioritize long‑term investments rather than extend enforcement powers that increase police contact for Black and brown youth.
"Extending a curfew doesn't solve the problem. It hides it," a student from Black Swan Academy said, urging the council to fund late‑night recreation centers and low‑barrier mental‑health services. High‑school leaders and educators described direct negative experiences: one young witness said police once threatened to deploy chemical irritant at a late‑night event where he and friends were not involved in crime; others recounted being stopped while walking home.
Education and youth‑service witnesses recommended specific measures: year‑round after‑school clubs (including non‑sports options like cooking or music), credible‑messenger outreach teams, safe van transport from program sites, more funding for violence‑interruption and a youth advisory panel to shape policy. Teachers said safe‑passage workers and trusted community providers had reduced harm in some neighborhoods and asked that any transitional enforcement powers be accompanied by guaranteed, funded programming and a transparent notice plan.
Several youth emphasized that some children are outside because home is unsafe or unstable and that policing will not address those root causes. Committee members acknowledged the requests and asked the executive and MPD to provide detailed follow‑up data.
