Public radio and iWatch News report on daytime curfew in Los Angeles

Introduction

In collaboration with the Center for Public Integrity’s iWatch News, KQED Public Radio’s California Report has taken a look at the debate over a daytime curfew law before the Los Angeles City Council today, Wednesday, Feb. 22.

Our reports include interviews with participants in a movement opposing curfew enforcement that has resulted in mostly low-income and black and Latino students receiving $250-plus tickets in Los Angeles. Ironically, kids who were ticketed for arriving just minutes late to school — sometimes because their city buses were late — have had to miss more school to answer to accusations in court.

Santa Monica-based KCRW public radio host Warren Olney also took an interest in the daytime curfew along with KQED, which is based in San Francisco. Olney interviewed me about the daytime curfew controversy on Feb. 14 on his “Which Way, L.A.?” show.

Los Angeles City Council members are considering adopting proposed reforms that would limit when and how police can ticket kids, and drastically lower — if not eliminate — monetary fines in favor of mandatory counseling.