Letter: Baton Rouge must control its youth

I am from out of town, but my daughter and her family live in Baton Rouge. I frequently visit the mall when I am there, and they go at least twice a week. However, my mall visits are over, and I am encouraging them to shop elsewhere as well. The powers that be in Baton Rouge better start trying to figure out how to control their kids, since it’s quite obvious the parents can’t or won’t.

Every time I pick up a paper or turn on the news, somebody in Baton Rouge has been shot or robbed or murdered. Baton Rouge is becoming more and more violent, and that reputation is spreading like wildfire.

I don’t know what it will take to correct that, curfews, more cops, whatever, but whoever is in charge better figure it out because your city is about to start suffering the consequences.

Celeste Fletcher

abstractor

Colfax

Comments

1) Comment by maybe_sparrow - 15/01/2013

What is the deal? Unless the news reports were woefully inaccurate, no one was hurt or shot during that incident. Now people are saying they're afraid to go to the mall? People are ridiculous.

2) Comment by billynurse - 12/01/2013

Parents , step up and raise your children !!! AND the ones you're not sure are yours! (hopefully you can read this)

3) Comment by firefly225 - 12/01/2013

^I would like to know how much talk and publicity there would be if the same incident happened at Cortana Mall. My guess is not even half of MOL's.

4) Comment by firefly225 - 12/01/2013

If we want to be honest, I think what's getting at everyone about this incident, or at least myself, is that this is something you'd expect to happen at Cortana Mall, not south BR's MOL. Just when will it end? Once that side of town invades this side of town there will be nothing left that is nice, pleasant or safe. If anyone thinks I'm being mean or rascist, go ask older people how life used to be in north BR 25+years ago and then go take a tour or watch the local news for an update. I don't see how I'll ever be able to raise a family here, as there will be nothing left to enjoy.

5) Comment by eckswhyzee - 12/01/2013

Unbelievable..."whoever is in charge"...instead of depending on society to "control its youth", place the blame on the no count parents

6) Comment by Bouncer - 12/01/2013

@whatnow.....let me clarify. I do not shop at malls as a matter of habit, like the letter writer suggests that she and her family do. That is not the same thing as saying that I never set foot in one. I have been to the MOL as recently as a month ago, but I probably won't go back again anytime in the near future. Reason? Not because I am afraid of kids who hang out there but because I can get better deals online, 99% of the time. There. Does that satisfy you? You can take your stinking foot out of your big mouth now.

7) Comment by [e-mail] - 12/01/2013

Nobody except their victims ever complain, that's the reson they are able to run amok. Everybody else is afraid to call it like it is and tell them to cut it out. When I was a youngster in public, any adult would rightly point out and criticize my actions if they were less than proper and that was the norm for the times. No kid was allowed to insult, mock, or otherwise disturb public surroundings; if it happened they were dealt with severely. These days, even parents are afraid to correct a 17 yr old "child".

8) Comment by prbeav - 12/01/2013

The disruptive aspects of this criminal mischief have been listed in the Advocate's coverage of the incident. However, Mrs. Fletcher's declaration impressed me more than the mere mention of revenue losses.>>>>Like Bouncer, I resist minor intimidation, but when the incentives are small, I simply avoid unpleasant surroundings.

9) Comment by Whatnow - 12/01/2013

If you don't shop at malls, how do you know what you're talking about?

10) Comment by Bouncer - 12/01/2013

So in other words, Ms. Fletcher, you are allowing a bunch of unruly teenagers to control that aspect of your life and to deprive you of an activity that you found enjoyable? Too bad. I don't shop at malls, but if it was something that I enjoyed doing, I certainly would not stop doing it out of fear of some unsupervised teens. I think you're overreacting.

11) Comment by Elderly Man - 12/01/2013

Unsupervised young hoodlums roam the Mall of Louisiana. Shopping there is unpleasant. I avoid shopping there. The location is heading for disater.

12) Comment by gary - 12/01/2013

Celeste, you are correct - I believe $$$ will be the deciding factor in controlling of the youth at MOL - not money for law enforcement - but profits for the stores - when that starts to slip - they will get the youth under control.