Editorial: Responding to teen rage

The swift and stern reaction by Philadelphia officials to the so-called flash mobs has been commendable. Preventing and putting a stop to the problem is the next challenge.

Mayor Nutter, Police Commissioner Charles H. Ramsey, and Family Court Judge Kevin M. Dougherty all sent clear, no-nonsense messages to parents and the mobs of teens who have swarmed city streets unannounced, sparking fights and property damage.

Mayor Nutter said rapid response teams are in place to clamp down on any future incidents. He may extend the curfew for teens if the trouble persists.

Ramsey urged parents to assert more control of their children, saying that the police will not tolerate bad behavior.

Dougherty issued strong warnings to a couple dozen teens arrested in previous flash mob incidents who appeared in his courtroom last week. Three were sent to juvenile detention centers.

(The unified efforts by the city leaders stand in stark contrast to the slow and tepid response by Philadelphia School District officials to the racial attacks on Asian students by mostly African American students at South Philadelphia High School late last year.)

There have been at least four flash mob incidents in the city in the past year, including one last Saturday night involving hundreds of teens on South Street. The kids are alerted to the gatherings through text messages and social-networking sites.

The incident last week prompted a story on the front page of the New York Times. Such negative publicity has hurt the city's image and prompted many to say they will avoid shopping, eating out, or visiting the city.

An underlying tension in the flash mob incidents involves race and class. The majority of the teens in the flash mobs are black and from the inner city. The incidents have all occurred around retail sections of the city.

Several forums were held in the city last week to try to better understand the root cause of the flash mobs. The explanations offered by teens varied.

Some said the meetings were sparked by trash talking on social-network pages. Others wanted to meet girls. Others said they were bored and looking for excitement. Still others said they did it to establish street credibility.

Many of the same issues have inspired teens to do dumb things over the years. But the technology of text messages and social networks allows for the information to be disbursed more quickly.

More lasting solutions obviously include better education, after-school activities, jobs, and more stable home life. Those all take more time and effort.

More discussions by parents, teachers, and community leaders may help teens to talk through the issues. In the short term, the tough response by the city leaders and police is also welcome.