{"id":11714,"date":"2022-12-19T16:38:35","date_gmt":"2022-12-19T21:38:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.teanecktoday.com\/blog\/?page_id=11714"},"modified":"2022-12-22T17:53:29","modified_gmt":"2022-12-22T22:53:29","slug":"teaneck-council-passes-ordinance-protecting-families-and-police-from-overzealous-neighbors","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.teanecktoday.com\/blog\/teaneck-council-passes-ordinance-protecting-families-and-police-from-overzealous-neighbors\/","title":{"rendered":"Teaneck Council Passes Ordinance Protecting Families (and Police) from Overzealous Neighbors"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Councilman Keith Kaplan<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Teaneck\u2019s law (Ordinance 58-2022<\/a>) passed on December 13th<\/sup> states that “minor children of sufficient maturity are permitted in Teaneck’s Parks and Playgrounds and may participate independently in activities that a reasonable and prudent adult would consider safe given the child’s maturity, condition, and abilities”.<\/p>\n

Parents have always been capable and expected to determine the appropriate timing, as to when their kids were ready to venture out alone, to play outside or walk to \/ from school \/ local stores.<\/p>\n

The ordinance<\/a> passed the Teaneck Council on December 13th<\/sup> and goes into effect 20 days after publication by the Township clerk.\u00a0 Councilman Keith Kaplan, who proposed the law stated: \u201cWe believe that parents know and love their children better than anybody\u2026 Responsible parents should be able to let kids be kids without constantly looking over their shoulders for approval or worse, fear that other neighbors may choose to veto their decision as how best to raise their children.\u201d<\/p>\n

An Issue of Social Equity<\/strong><\/p>\n

Councilwoman Gervonn Romney-Rice, who voted in favor of the measure stated<\/p>\n

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Councilwoman Gervonn Romney-Rice<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

that she \u201cunderstand[s] why there is a need for this and hopefully it would bring further equity. But my first comment [to Councilman Kaplan] about this was building community. So that it would be a community member that would interact with the student [instead of police].\u00a0 That we would all be our brother and sister\u2019s keepers. So, I would be in favor if it does decrease these [police] interactions.<\/p>\n

Families support the Teaneck \u201cLet Grow\u201d law.<\/strong><\/p>\n

This type of law which has been passed by four other States, in various forms has been requested by many.\u00a0 Parent Miriam Gedwiser spoke at the Town Council meeting during the public comment session, in favor of the ordinance:<\/p>\n

\u201cThe ordinance is a way of trying to reduce police involvement in children\u2019s lives and parenting decisions. In terms of regulating social norms. The way to not regulate social norms is to remove the police from deciding who has made an ok decision and not about their child”, Gedwiser told the Council.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Gedwiser also reminded the Council that police being called on a child, merely for walking in their neighborhood, has long-lasting effects.<\/p>\n

\u201cHaving had a very negative personal experience when somebody who doesn\u2019t know me or my family involved the police in a decision where they did not need to be, I think that maybe that could have been prevented by something like this\u201d, Gedwiser said. \u201cBy setting a norm that parents can make reasonable decisions that are different from each other \u2013 and that\u2019s ok. I urge you to [pass it], I think this is a way of protecting families from unnecessary police involvement.\u201d<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

A Sentiment shared by community members of color, among others:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Councilwoman Gervonn Romney Rice, voted in favor of the ordinance stating: \u201cWelcome to my world\u2026 [where you can] have a young girl that\u2019s catching lantern flies and have the police pulled on her because you know, a young girl\u2019s out there and it\u2019s suspicious.\u201d<\/p>\n

Teaneck\u2019s \u201cLet Grow\u201d law provides protections parents and kids need<\/strong><\/p>\n

For decades, the Board of Education has required a parent to be present to pick up their child from the bus, but only in grades Pre-K to 1<\/u>.<\/p>\n

Are 2nd<\/sup> graders permitted to walk by themselves?\u00a0 Maybe?<\/em><\/p>\n