Teach the children well

There has been increasing trouble in southeast Iowa City neighborhoods during the past few weeks.

Iowa City Council members are right to discuss whether new ordinances can be enacted to help bring this growing public safety problem under control.

But it will take more than tougher laws to stem the fights and delinquent behaviors that worry this side of town.

Community organizations, neighbors, parents and kids all have a role to play in turning this unacceptable situation around.

There have been several high-profile violent incidents in southeast Iowa City this summer, many involving juveniles.

Most recently, neighbors told police they heard as many as nine shots fired along the 1900 block of Broadway Street about 11:43 p.m. Tuesday.

Witnesses gave different accounts about whether the shots were part of an argument or just “for fun,” police said.

Reports of shots fired are not uncommon in the area, which is developing a reputation for criminal activity.

Earlier this month, more than two dozen teenagers were believed to have been involved in a disturbance with guns in which a boy reportedly was shot in the arm.

Witnesses told police that children as young as age 12 were involved in that incident, near Lakeside Drive and Regal Lane.

Neighbors are fed up with the disturbances and vandalism. Some also are justifiably concerned for their safety. Clearly, something must be done.

Iowa City Council members have asked staff to draft an ordinance that would set a curfew for minors, and a juvenile delinquency ordinance that might prohibit activities like congregating in an intimidating manner, chronic truancy, causing disturbances at school and impeding traffic.

Iowa City Police Chief Sam Hargadine told council members a delinquency ordinance would allow police to address problematic behaviors that aren't covered under existing law.

If those ordinances can help curb the dangerous incidents in Iowa City's neighborhood, we support them.

But we believe they must be part of a larger strategy to be fully effective.

Property owners and neighbors, parents and children, religious and social and educational groups all can play a role in changing the behavior culture of southeast Iowa City.

Some good efforts are in the works: An Iowa City police officer started working with neighborhoods this week on crime prevention. Interim City Manager Dale Helling has said the city will work with neighborhood and community agencies to address critical underlying problems driving the violence.

Neighbors, parents, teens and other stakeholders also need to step up to help curb these incidents. Teach young people a better way.