The Michigan Daily- Friday, May 6, 1988-Pag.3
City council may ban
downtown skateboarders
BY PETER MOONEY
Ann Arbor's downtown skateboarders may soon find
their favorite mode of transportation subject to criminal
penalties. Last Monday, the Ann Arbor City Council
gave initial approval to an ordinance that would ban
skateboarding in downtown shopping districts.
Mayor Gerald Jernigan said he proposed the ordi-
nance in response to complaints from local merchants
who say skateboarders harass their customers. Council
must pass the ordinance again, after a May 13 public
hearing, in order to make it law.
Under the proposed ordinance, skateboarding in
some downtown areas could lead to sanctions - in-
cluding fines up to $100, impoundment of the boards,
and possible imprisonment, City Attorney Bruce Laid-
law said.
CHRIS BECKER, a 17-year-old Community
High School student, said local skateboarders plan to
attend the public hearing to protest the ordinance. "It
really sucks," Becker said.
Mayor Gerald Jernigan said the skateboard restriction
is needed to prevent destruction of city property. Jerni-
gan said the skateboarders caused over $2,000 in dam-
age to Liberty Plaza benches and planters, but David
Rohr, a 14-year-old Forsythe Junior High School stu-
dent, argued that homeless city residents cause damage
as well,
The ordinance passed 6-5 with support from council
Republicans, who won a majority of council seats in
last month's city elections.
Will Hathaway, vice president for government af-
fairs of the Ann Arbor Chamber of Commerce, sup-
ports the council's action - which he says is based
on a proposal the chamber issued in 1986.
"SKATEBOARDERS contribute to a feeling
that the downtown is unsafe," Hathaway said.
Council Democrats joined the skateboarders in de-
nouncing the proposal, arguing the city should
concentrate on preventing violent crimes and drug-re-
lated offenses, not skateboarding.
Councilmember Larry Hunter (D-1st Ward) said the
ordinance would not be obeyed and could not be en-
forced. "We're making it look like we're doing some-
thing when we're not really doing anything," he said.
Rohr said he and other skateboarders will avoid the
police rather than follow the law. "We'll come down
here at night (to skateboard)," he said.
But Councilmember Ingrid Sheldon (R-2nd Ward)
said police can enforce the ordinance because it would
be limited to downtown areas. The ordinance doesn't
specify areas, but Jernigan said it would most likely
apply to the central business district bordered by
Williams, Washington, Liberty, and State Streets.
ROHR and Becker said skateboarders cause mini-
mal property damage. And Hunter said the skateboard-
ers cause no more destruction than others who use city
facilities, while criticizing the ordinance's "punitive
approach."
But councilmember Tom Richardson (R-5th Ward)
said skateboarders have behaved "irresponsibly" by
damaging property and frightening pedestrians. He
added that enforcement would be directed "just at areas
where there have been problems."
a Quarter
Qencher!
Artes~ian 61,tm
Chris Beckey, age 17, skateboards over Lamar Bastic,
age 14, while a fellow Ann Arbor resident watches by
in Liberty Plaza.
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