Downtown Trenton Curfew Raises Equity Concerns

TRENTON, N.J. — A new city-imposed curfew on East State Street is drawing mixed reactions from residents, business owners and community advocates, many of whom say the policy may do more harm than good for Black youth and small businesses in downtown Trenton.

The emergency curfew, which went into effect July 18th, restricts access between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. Friday through Sunday along a busy stretch of East State Street. City officials say the move follows an uptick in violent incidents and large, unruly gatherings late at night.

“There has been ongoing violence in this area, and we must take immediate action to protect our community,” Mayor Reed Gusciora said in a press release announcing Executive Order 25-01. “The emergency curfew is a necessary measure to help ensure the safety of our residents.”

Police are expected to enforce the curfew by monitoring the area during restricted hours and may stop individuals who appear to be loitering or do not have a clear reason for being in the area. But critics say the curfew reinforces a pattern of over-policing in predominantly Black communities and sidesteps the root causes of crime.

“This might clear the streets, but it doesn’t solve the real problems,” said Maurice Daniels, a lifelong Trenton resident. “We need jobs, mentorship, community spaces. Not more police telling us where we can’t be.”

Some residents worry the measure could escalate tensions between police and youth.

“When you give police the power to stop people just for being outside, that’s when it gets dangerous,” said Janelle Thomas, who lives near East State Street. “You’re treating kids coming from work or the corner store like criminals.”

Several business owners in the downtown area also say they were not consulted before the curfew was announced and are already feeling the effects.

“We weren’t given any heads-up,” said a downtown business manager who asked not to be identified. “It’s hard to plan or stay afloat when decisions like this are made without including the people actually working here at night.”

Others, however, support the move and hope it brings more order to the area after dark.

“I’ve seen a lot out here. If this helps reduce the chaos, I’m all for it,” said one store clerk, who declined to give his name. “But it can’t be the only plan.”

While some downtown workers hope the curfew will bring order, others, especially young people relying on late-night transit, fear it will unfairly target them as they try to get home safely.

“I get out late and have to catch the bus near State Street,” said Malik, a teen from Trenton who commutes to Philadelphia for a summer internship. “Now I’m worried about getting stopped just for heading home. We’re not out here causing problems, we’re just trying to get where we need to go.”

The curfew is expected to remain in effect through August 17th, with city officials monitoring its impact and evaluating whether to extend it.

In the meantime, residents like Thomas say they want the city to involve the community before making further decisions.

“People want to feel safe, but not policed,” she said. “There’s a difference.”