New curfew rules coming to WHA properties

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — Teens in Wilmington Housing Authority properties have a new set of rules to follow. At a Monday night board meeting the board voted to impose a curfew on everyone under the age of 17.

I’m really ready to move, but at the meeting tonight they said some things that kind of got me thinking differently now,” said Sonya Muldrow, a Creekwood resident.

Sonya Muldrow has lived in Creekwood all of her life. She says in her day parents enforced a curfew, but now it’s up to the Wilmington Housing Authority and Wilmington police.

“Curfew came about from modeling other housing authorities across the country and the fact that we thought those things should be imposed for the safety of our younger residents,” said WHA Chairman Jeff Hovis. “The police will basically enforce that curfew.”

That curfew will be in effect every day for minors. Sunday through Thursday they need to be inside from 10 PM to 5 AM. On Friday and Saturday minors have an extra hour, until 11 PM, to stay out. If any minor must be outside during curfew hours an adult must be with them. It’s a plan Creekwood residents like Muldrow, and the WHA can agree on.

“If they’re just out loitering and don’t have a reason to be out causing confusion, you know I’m just tired of it,” said Muldrow.

“The frustration, I get it,” said Hovis. “This is their houses, their cars, their kids. I’m just as concerned.”

Another rule change being discussed by WHA would gate off their communities between the hours of 6 PM and 6 AM.

It’s similar to what’s already happening in Charleston, SC, but Muldrow says that plan goes a bit too far.

“You might can incarcerate me physically or block me in physically, but mentally you can never gate me up,” said Muldrow.

In addition to the curfew the WHA board also banned smoking in their properties, and agreed to work with WPD to get ShotSpotter installed in all of their communities.