GARY — The City Council’s interest in a proposed ordinance to combat the wearing of sagging pants in public appears to have bottomed out and it doesn’t appear members will take a crack at passing one this year.
Council President Ron Brewer, D-at large, said there is a “lack of support” on the council for addressing the issue.
“A lot of people don’t want to deal with it right now,” he said.
Last fall, Brewer brought up the idea of an ordinance in response to concerns he said he heard from residents about people wearing pants hanging down below their waist as well as witnessing the fashion statement himself. He initially suggested such an ordinance might require violators to pay a $25 fine for the first offense, which could increase for subsequent violations. Later, he suggested the first offense would only merit a warning. Even more importantly, Brewer said, would be a requirement violators perform some type of community service.
Mayor Karen Freeman-Wilson was in favor of such an ordinance and believed it would hold up in court.
Various chapters of the American Civil Liberties Union, however, have opposed local laws banning sagging pants. In 2012, Merrillville considered a saggy pants ordinance before dropping the idea. Merrillville Town Attorney John Bushemi said his firm “determined that the ordinance could be ruled unconstitutional as a violation of the First Amendment freedom of expression.”
In October, members of Gary’s Youth Council voted that a saggy pants ordinance should be considered by the regular City Council. In December, the Youth Council finished discussing what it would like to see in the ordinance as it would apply to people under 18 years old. Young people found violating the proposed ordinance could potentially have been referred by a school administrator or law enforcement authority to a Gary Youth Court, that was still being formed. Brewer, who wanted the ordinance expanded to include adults wearing saggy pants, suggested it could be taken up by the full council in the first part of this year after the law department finished crafting it. One of the issues to be addressed was an exact definition of sagging pants.
Brewer, although he still thinks the ordinance could be a good idea, believes the proposal is pr
GARY — The City Council’s interest in a proposed ordinance to combat the wearing of sagging pants in public appears to have bottomed out and it doesn’t appear members will take a crack at passing one this year.
Council President Ron Brewer, D-at large, said there is a “lack of support” on the council for addressing the issue.
“A lot of people don’t want to deal with it right now,” he said.
Last fall, Brewer brought up the idea of an ordinance in response to concerns he said he heard from residents about people wearing pants hanging down below their waist as well as witnessing the fashion statement himself. He initially suggested such an ordinance might require violators to pay a $25 fine for the first offense, which could increase for subsequent violations. Later, he suggested the first offense would only merit a warning. Even more importantly, Brewer said, would be a requirement violators perform some type of community service.
Mayor Karen Freeman-Wilson was in favor of such an ordinance and believed it would hold up in court.
Various chapters of the American Civil Liberties Union, however, have opposed local laws banning sagging pants. In 2012, Merrillville considered a saggy pants ordinance before dropping the idea. Merrillville Town Attorney John Bushemi said his firm “determined that the ordinance could be ruled unconstitutional as a violation of the First Amendment freedom of expression.”
In October, members of Gary’s Youth Council voted that a saggy pants ordinance should be considered by the regular City Council. In December, the Youth Council finished discussing what it would like to see in the ordinance as it would apply to people under 18 years old. Young people found violating the proposed ordinance could potentially have been referred by a school administrator or law enforcement authority to a Gary Youth Court, that was still being formed. Brewer, who wanted the ordinance expanded to include adults wearing saggy pants, suggested it could be taken up by the full council in the first part of this year after the law department finished crafting it. One of the issues to be addressed was an exact definition of sagging pants.
Brewer, although he still thinks the ordinance could be a good idea, believes the proposal is pretty much dead right now. He said the proposal created a lot of discussion in the community and he doesn’t see the problem with sagging pants that he did in the past. In addition to people discussing the issue at home, Brewer said a lot of ministers have addressed the issue at their churches.
etty much dead right now. He said the proposal created a lot of discussion in the community and he doesn’t see the problem with sagging pants that he did in the past. In addition to people discussing the issue at home, Brewer said a lot of ministers have addressed the issue at their churches.
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