The Virginian-Pilot
©
NORFOLK
A day before MacArthur Center’s policy barring unchaperoned underage shoppers from the mall after 5 p.m. was set to go into effect, about three dozen teenagers showed up to protest.
Shivering in cold, drizzly weather, the 13-, 14- and 15-year-olds said Sunday they were being punished for the actions of a few bad apples and that they would stop shopping at MacArthur altogether.
Mall general manager Jim Wofford said his plans had not changed and that he was happy for the protesters to demonstrate.
“I think any time we can hear from the demographic groups of our shoppers, it’s great,” he said.
Mall employees handed out purple and white pamphlets on the new “Adult Supervision Program” to shoppers in the mall Sunday.
Meanwhile, the teenagers stood outside, with a handful of signs that read “Mall Should Be For All,” “MacArthur is not being fair” and “1,907 strong against the age restrictions” – reflecting the number who have signed up for a protest group on the social networking Web site Facebook .
Group leaders spoke to local news crews, and 14 -year-old Quint Guvernator, a Norfolk Academy student who founded the “MacArthur is not being fair!” Facebook group went to speak to Wofford about the policy. He came back disappointed.
“He was nice, but he didn’t listen to us,” he said. “… He didn’t respond.”
The next step wasn’t clear, Guvernator said, but they will continue to boycott MacArthur and see what happens.
“I hope when their next month’s figures come in, they’ll reconsider,” he said.
Alicia Wittmeyer, (757) 222-5216, alicia.wittmeyer@pilotonline.com
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thinhk---
I do no think this is a "headline" on a Wed Afternoon, with the story written on the 19th.
no longer news
Why is this still being reported? It's no longer news, if it really was in the first place. Enough on this topic. Minds are not going to be changed on either side and the posts, for the most part, are irrational and pointless now. I enjoyed my night shopping there the other day after the ban and did notice a difference. Once again, thanks mall management.
Well said
Well said
hmmm
I wonder who is going to enforce this curfew. Mall/store security?
Good luck...the kids can outrun them any day. And what if they run into Dillards or any of the other street access stores? Are they still in violation?
kids need to understand...
This is not government property, it is private property and more to the point, this is private property leased by entrepreneurs and business people who would like to see their small businesses avoid bankruptcy and other financial hardships. Why all the harassment? When the atmosphere at MacMall becomes adolescent enough, the shopkeepers may go out of business and stores will be shuttered and then what? These malls do not exist to entertain young people. They're there to conduct business. They're not there to provide adolescents with a place to "hang." Store owners are hanging on by the skin of their teeth. Why not give *them* a little leeway here? It's NOT all about the kids. Yeesh.
private property?
Consider the fact that the city of norfolk used taxpayer dollars to fund part of the construction of MacArthur Center before stating that it is private property.
From the builder's website:
"One of the anchor stores and both parking garages were built by the City - while the Mall was built by Taubman. The public-private coordination was of critical importance to the success of the project."
From website: http://www.hldevelopment.com/projects/more_projects/20_shopping.html?OUT_lckBtn=shopping
For legal precedent
Exhibitions in Non-Traditional Venues Research Summary
Research by Andi Coyle, 2001
"Funding was the biggest challenge for all of the projects. In the case of MacArthur Center, a new mall development indowntown Norfolk, the city government insisted the developers install display windows dedicated to an exhibition that traced the city’s history along one street. Mall developers were not interested in supporting the project, but because city funding was involved in the construction of the mall, they relented and redesigned the building to include windows. All design, installation, and maintenance costs for the exhibition windows, were and continue to be the respo
RE: Kids need to Understand
Well, said!
If the children are
If the children are protesting then the policy must be working, GOOD!!!
I'll still be shopping...
Hmmm..36 protesters huh? That's typical of today's teens, if it involves something on their own time or being put out a little bit by getting wet and cold for the cause...they bail. I know my own experiences at Mac and Lynnhaven have prevented me from doing much mall shopping. I'll definately drive the 15 min from Va Beach to Norfolk instead of the 5 it takes to get to Lynnhaven. That mall needs to adopt a similar policy or just have the security guards do their job. Parents need to quit letting their kids loiter at the mall. They drop their kids off knowing they don't have any money or just enough to get something to eat while they hangout. Parents, start being parents and spend time with you kids.
When do I get carded?
I understand the mall management wanting to remove "troublesome" teens, but I also believe in minding your own business and leaving clearly untroublesome people alone. I've had quite a few annoying and offensive confrontations by people in public places doubting my right to be there because of my youthful looks. I've been stopped by the police under suspicions of truancy while on my lunch break from my office job. Multiple times I've had to show my photo ID at Costco to prove I'm not a kid who stole someone else's membership card. I've has store employees suggest I ask my mom to buy me something. I've had jewelry store employees be extremely rude to me assuming I'm just a teen window shopper. I'm 25, I'm been married almost 5 years, but just because I look young, people treat me suspiciously. It's a pain in the neck! If someone isn't exhibiting any problem behavior then just leave them alone! Anyway, I'm expecting to have to show my ID the next time I go to the mall now. Just one more place I get to be annoyed because apparently I haven't gained enough weight or smoked enough cigarettes to age myself to a normal looking 25...