Winston-Salem Curfew to End Amidst Community Debate
In a recent decision, Winston-Salem’s city leaders chose not to extend the youth curfew, which is set to conclude next week. This decision followed a council meeting where differing opinions on the effectiveness of the curfew were discussed.
Police Chief William Penn addressed the council, reporting that the curfew, running from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m., had significantly contributed to a decline in youth-related crime. He noted, “No youth injured by violent crime, no traffic accidents, no teen takeovers, no issues on the 4th of July, which I couldn’t say last year.”
Despite these claims, some community members voiced their opposition to the curfew. Marilyn Lacunza, a local resident, argued, “Winston PD’s data identified 13 incidents during the curfew period. That is not evidence that thousands of young people need to be subjected to a citywide restriction.”
The council ultimately voted 6-2 against prolonging the ordinance, with only Robert Clark and Annette Scippio supporting the extension. As a result, the curfew will officially expire on October 12.
