Lil Cease, a possible Surreal Life candidate.
Posted on 04/20/2005 7:31:05 AM PDT by kingattax
NASHUA, N.H. (AP) - Every kid knows hanging out with Mom or Dad can be kind of a drag. Kids who want to spend time at the Pheasant Lane Mall on Friday or Saturday nights might not have a choice.
In response to recent "disorderly and disruptive" incidents, mall security two weeks ago started distributing fliers outlining the mall's "general code of conduct," according to mall Manager Ginny Szymanski.
From 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, mall security guards now stand outside two entrances to make sure anyone under 16 has a parent or someone over 21 with them.
"That's when we approach them and give them a copy of the code of conduct and ask the parent to come in with them," Szymanski said.
She said the code - which outlines 13 rules governing acceptable conduct and clothing, among other things - will be enforced by security.
Szymanski said the mall rules have always been in place and posted, but the fliers were printed two weeks ago in response to the large groups of teenagers who have been hanging out - not shopping - at the mall on Friday and Saturday nights.
If the parent can't accompany the child during those times, they are asked to take the youngster home, she said.
If kids are found to be disrupting the mall's business, Szymanski said they will be escorted to the command center to call a parent to pick them up.
"We're not out to punish anyone," she said. "We're just trying to better manage the shopping experience."
Shoppers interviewed by The Telegraph didn't seem too thrilled by the code of conduct, though.
"I feel as though if I want to drop my kids off, I should. They're responsible," said Leann Newcomb of Lowell, Mass., who was shopping Monday with her 15-year-old daughter, Ashley.
Ashley agreed.
"I can come here and I can be fine without my mom," she said.
Stacey Donovan of Tyngsborough, Mass., said she always has considered the mall a safe haven for people.
"God knows what they'll be doing if they're not at the mall," she said. "To say it's not allowed is not the right answer. Let them have their place."
Not every New Hampshire mall has problems with kids' behavior. Scott Payrits, senior marketing manager at the Steeplegate Mall in Concord, said kids come to his mall to shop, not to cause trouble.
"We do not have any sort of problem with disruptive incidents, especially with kids," he said. "We have very good public safety. We don't have the need for a children-specific code of conduct."
One of the rules at Pheasant Lane prohibits dress "commonly recognized as gang-related."
Szymanski said the mall doesn't have a gang problem, but that people with certain attire - such as long chains that fall below the knee or studded dog or wrist collars, all of which can be used as weapons, she said - will be asked to remove them. If they don't comply, they will be asked to leave the mall, she said.
Leann Newcomb questioned the rule.
"They sell that stuff," said Newcomb. "How are they going to tell the kids after they buy that stuff not to wear it? Isn't that a violation of your constitutional rights?"
That is exactly what parents are doing. They are using the malls as babysitters. To quote one of the mothers: "I feel as though if I want to drop my kids off, I should."
Can you imagine dropping off your kid at a mall that has problems like this?
I can't imagine dropping my kids off at the mall, period. See, my parents never would have allowed me to do so. I did fine, my kids will to.
I heard that area was getting pretty skeevy, but it's just unbelievable that they allowed the gangs to overrun the place. But... I guess that's Mass for you.
Were this to happen at Roosevelt Field!!!!
it should. I hardly ever go there anymore, and when I do its in the middle of the day when I am off from work. The Source mall is not so bad. But at night and especially weekend nights, Roosevelt Field looks like they are filming a gang movie there.
I've not been to the malls lately especially Roosevelt Field. RF is like Mallrats meets Eight Mile to me. Besides I save a lot of money :-) Source is nice if I want peace and quiet but I'm so over suburban soccer mommie culture.
I remember working at Bloomingdale's when we had Tyson doing a modeling show. Wow...then Lil Cease was signing autographs at a clothing warehouse in the mall. It was unreal but I loved the look on one of his flunkie's faces when I said 'Who is Lil Cease?' LOL
Aurora Mall here in Denver became a gangbanger hangout. People stopped shopping there due to the crap going on. Stores were strangled and were leaving the mall.
The mall owners finally wised up and changed things. They are expanding and you can bet your last dollar they will not let the gangbangers take over again.
Malls are not day care centers. They are a place of commerce.
Uhh... could you tell ignorant me who is Lil Cease? Thanks.
Lil Cease was Biggie Small's aide de camp. His career went south when Biggie Smalls got capped in front of some night club. It was pretty sad to watch really young girls throwing themselves at him.
Lil Cease, a possible Surreal Life candidate.
Guess I need to get out more often. Who in the world is Biggie Small?
The only time I go to a mall is when my daughter wants to go. No, I don't leave her there. She goes in and out with me.
Rapper who has assumed room temperature.
Thanks, no wonder I never heard of the name. ;0)
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