Growing up in Kansas City, Kan. I have been visiting the Country Club Plaza for as long as I can remember.  What I didn’t realize until I got older was that there was a lot of crime and public disturbance—especially by teenagers– that had been occurring in the area over the years. In 2011, Mayor Sly James passed a law to  institute a curfew for minors.

It is effective starting at 9 p.m. and is enforced in the five entertainment districts of Kansas. The law applies to unaccompanied minors. The law went into effect in reaction to a shooting which left three teens dead at the Plaza.  However, the curfew would is not in effect all year. It is only in effect between the Friday before Memorial Day through the last Sunday in September.

The rest of the year, these areas are on a later curfew consistent with the rest of Kansas. Naturally there has been some degree of controversy over the years as to the effectiveness of the law and its enforcement as well as whether it is fair to the teenage population. More recently, I have run into a similar issue in Omaha.

I am a sophomore at Creighton University. Recently, I have joined a band called Spontaneity. Our plan was to play at open mic nights in Omaha, but we have run into trouble with the legislation in Nebraska that amounts to something of a curfew for minors. 

In 2008, Nebraska passed an ordinance which stipulates—among other things—that minors must vacate a premises that sells alcohol at 9 p.m.  There are, of course, exceptions to the law, but they are not exactly simple on all accounts. While it opens the opportunity for minors to be on the premises of businesses which are designated as “music venues,” it does nothing for programs such as the open mic nights which smaller businesses may intend to start.

While underage drinking is certainly a valid concern of the city, it is also concerning to me that the city makes it so difficult to foster the developing music scene in Omaha. While established acts may get booked at bigger venues which meet the designation as a “music venue,” it does not exactly allow much opportunity for the young and aspiring musicians of Omaha to get the experience they desire. Music, spoken word, and all of the other exhibitions of self which one may expect to see at an open mic night should be a way to foster the creativity of the community.

Comparing my two experiences with these type of curfew laws, it seems to me that the key differences between them should be recognized. In Kansas, the curfew laws were put in place to stop a culture of violence and chaos that was developing. In Nebraska, the ordinance put in place is different in that it may be intended for protection of minors, but it is equally a hindrance to them in other ways, and this is not being recognized by the city.

It is not my suggestion that the ordinances in place in Omaha should be completely eradicated. I would only suggest that the city look into ways to allow more venues to cater to the underage community’s needs. Whether it be in expanding the definition of a “music venue” or in redefining the designation when it comes to those who are performing, it is worth looking into a way in which to meet both the safety of the underage community, as well as fostering its creativity is important moving forward.