Poll: Are Kids Out of Control in Downtown La Grange?

Ah, teenagers.

Looking back on those confusing years few of us can get nostalgic without shuddering over more than a few regrets over our actions. As we get older, we start to walk the line between becoming the old guy on the porch with the hose yelling at those "young punks" and being understanding adults of the difficulties of adolescence.

from the La Grange police blotter about a group of young kids being generally vulgar and dumb in downtown La Grange at night. Since I edit the police blotter for La Grange, I can tell you it's not unusual to see reports of , , or in the downtown area. Though, to be fair, the police blotter has plenty of similar incidents by people of all ages—not just teens!

Following this post, a reader wrote in to me asking what could be done. I'm withholding the name because the reader was concerned he'd be run out of town on a rail if he complained publicly about people's children.

"Every time I take my family to downtown La Grange the last few months, these "teenage males" have taken over the streets. Seriously, does the Village not notice this? All I see is kids harassing, swearing, etc., but not a sign of a beat cop." — Excerpt of an email from a Patch Reader.

I'd say that most kids I see in downtown La Grange are generally well-behaved, considerate and just trying to have a good time with their friends. However, if you're downtown regularly, you've certainly seen herds of young teens roaming the streets in mass.

So, I'll put it to the rest of our readers: is this a problem, and if so, what can be done?

Does it hurt the local businesses? The reader who wrote in said he prefers downtown Western Springs to La Grange. Are more beat cops needed to keep kids in check, or are we just overreacting about a rather small annoyance?

Tell us with a vote and explain yourself in comments.