This past Saturday, the Columbus Urban League, partnering with the Franklin County Job and Family Services, came to Whitehall, behind Target, to tout this event:

I arrived at noon and stayed ’til 1:30, waiting for events and kids speaking. There were tents thrown up in the loading dock area of Target. The whole purpose of the event seemed to be tied to the juveniles selling water on city streets. The core of the pitch seemed to be a ‘water bottle pledge’, that which youth would sign showing their willingness to abide by a small set of pledges. Here is that document:

The Columbus Urban League is a respected institution in our society and yet, for me personally, their releasing a document children will sign that is so peppered with spelling, punctuation and grammar mistakes is not very admirable nor worthy of such a valued and esteemed institution. Education, like people, matters. This signals to the youth that it doesn’t matter. I’m honestly surprised and disappointed they allowed this to go out, as is. 

Pledge #1: I PLEDGE to use Personal Protective Equipment when helping my customers. I will wear masks and gloves for safety.

This is great that its in there but, as we have seen, all of this has already been given to some of the juveniles by some well-meaning people, and they have been roundly abandoned, draped over a fence, etc. Expectation without consequences means nothing. Nothing.

Pledge #2: I PLEDGE to stay of (off/on?) curbs and out of the street when selling my products.

Again, they have been counseled on this problem by well-meaning community members, the Police and still, they do it. Just last week I saw one boy run into the opposite lane to a car, which had just passed the intersection, to sell a water, while another car going in the opposite direction passed only a foot or so from him. Clearly, advice given hasn’t always been heeded. What strength then will this mere ‘pledge’ have?

Pledge #3: I PLEDGE to wear my hat and visor (which they got in a goody bag when they filled out a ‘water bottle pledge’), as to be seen by traffic, follow safety rules, and make good choices to keep myself safe.

Looks good on paper.

Pledge #4: I PLEDGE to be in my home by 7pm

While this is admirable, no teen is going to run directly home by 7 pm on a Summer night. Its wording is unclear and too simple.

Pledge #5: I PLEDGE to not sell my products alone, as my safety is is most important. I am important to my family, my friend (just one?), and my community. I am valuable to society.

While this is a pledge to not sell things alone, its really a bolstering of worth and self-esteem and, while that is nice, it doesn’t really address good entrepreneurial behavior nor underpin all of this with any kind of authority.

Bottom line: I, of course, find this effort admirable, made by a non-governmental agency towards juveniles, as I always do and support.
However, it just shows no accountability other than a pledge (who will hold juveniles accountable when they ignore these pledge’s tenets or continue with any of the wrong which has already been reported?). As such, its nothing more than a soft-serve panacea which, in my opinion, merely serves to relieve and replace Whitehall Council and their obligations toward their duties as legislator’s and leaders, gets the community off the backs of these “little black kids”* and legitimizes kids selling wares on our streets and corners. So, while admirable in theory, I find it misguided as a real means of holding juveniles accountable for bad behavior in the public landscape, that which teaches lessons and, when applied properly and judiciously, crafts better character.

For an actual solution with caring but disciplined strength, I refer you to the plan I submitted to City Hall and the community:

COMMUNITY SOLUTIONS FOR KIDS ON STREETS SELLING WATER

Something I feel that needs comment is this: since Councilor Elmore cried (baseless) allegations of racism over complaints of juveniles selling water on our streets, the Columbus Urban League became involved and hosted this event at the very corner where the contentious behavior originated and, because the efforts made by them (in light of some of the awful behavior recounted and documented), are really quite toothless, lack accountability nor address respect to the street and community standard, it feels less about holding juveniles accountable while selling things in our community and more like an effort meant only to protect the youth based on the color of their skin.
For me, when fighting racism; no matter the color of the skin you live in, that sole motivation is always wrong.

Prove me wrong.

*Ward 4 Whitehall Councilor Lori Elmore