Mayoral Musings: Right in Our "Wheelhouse"

With complex problems, sometimes the best solution requires breaking down the problem and addressing each piece individually rather than trying to solve the whole issue with a single solution. This is the exact approach that is needed in addressing the so-called “wheelie kid” problem in our community and why a community-based approach, like providing them a fun and safe environment to learn new skills is best for all. So, let’s breakdown what we know about this challenge.

1. Their actions need to     be held accountable by the police, when possible. As stated before,     the police will continue to issue $300 fines to anyone caught committing     traffic violations of this nature. Obviously, more serious crimes     require a different level of police reaction. If a child is breaking into     cars and committing more heinous crimes than they will be held accountable     for those actions with the appropriate response including opening a full     investigation into those matters. For clarification purposes, police     cannot confiscate property, including bicycles, without a warrant     despite the very reasonable desire to take a bicycle away from someone who     is doing something dangerous with it.
2. Parents play a key role     in this problem. Any lasting solution will require the help of the     parents of these children. Again, I will not offer parenting advice to     anyone. That is not my place. I will only suggest that their involvement     in the daily actions of children is essential to positive development over     time. Without parental support it is unlikely that anyone, including law     enforcement, will be able to deter a child from committing     these traffic violations and may end up seriously hurt because of it.
3. Some kids need     community support. We have all seen it, a kid who is otherwise     great…but they fall in with a crowd of people who drag them down an     unhealthy path. It is extremely common and preventable. They need direction     and support. There is a reason the phrase “it takes a village” is a     cliché…because it is accurate. Raising kids without a support structure makes     everything infinitely more difficult. By creating options that help     encourage positive development in our community we can foster the next     generation of people who will make sure Lansdale continues to grow and     develop when our time is done.

It is on that final point that we need to be focused. Community involvement is essential to solving problems that reach into the more intimate portions of our world, like parenting. That is because support for a child can take many forms including a mentor or teacher who they might, for a variety of reasons, listen to more than their parents.

Which is why I am excited to be working with The Underground and Ryan Weiss on the Wheelhouse project. Ryan reached out to me and suggested that The Underground would be the perfect place for kids to learn cool, tangible, skills that they can use in their everyday life. Examples being learning how to mix audio, edit video, record live music, and learning performance stagecraft. Obviously, not all kids will be interested in these skill sets, which is why we are hoping other businesses would be interested in partnering with this program to help direct kids into things they are interested in. For now, we are starting small and see if it can be scaled up from there. To encourage kids to join, the police will be carrying informational cards that they can hand out and discuss with anyone they come across. This supports the community policing approach Lansdale is already practicing while helping get the word out about the new program.

Obviously, no one expects this to be a silver bullet that suddenly convinces all these kids to stop violating the traffic laws and being a general nuisance to the community. But we are building a structure that might help a few of them find something they love and something they use for the rest of their life to build upon. Ideally, one day, they take that skill and give back to the community and help build Lansdale into an even better place.

I commend and appreciate Ryan and the whole Round Guys/Underground team for stepping forward to try and help solve this issue and I believe this is a key step that will help improve Lansdale as whole now and into the future.

(Mayoral Musings is a weekly op-ed column submitted to North Penn Now, courtesy of Lansdale Borough Mayor Garry Herbert.)  

See also:

Police, Mayor Team With Local Business To Provide Alternative For ‘Wheelie Kids’

As Debate Rages On ‘Wheelie Kid’ Solutions, Police Issue Official Statement

Mayoral Musings: Wheels Down

Complaints Continue About Lansdale ‘Wheelie Kids’

Lansdale ‘Wheelie Kids’ Draw Ire Of Police, Businesses