By Angel Rivera, youth reporter
There is a Valley Plaza mall petition looking to ban unsupervised minors from entering the mall. What started small in June of 2025 has now been growing with each passing month, signature after signature. This has grown concern among the teenage community about whether our rights are being taken away, and I know I have. Especially for those who do not disturb the peace and behave, why should they get punished for the actions of immature kids?
It is completely unfair to those who do no harm and don’t disturb the peace of others.
Speaking from experience, when I was 17 years old, just a few months ago, whenever I went to the mall with my friends, we would go to shop, socialize, and have a good time as any other decent person would do. We wouldn’t walk aggressively, we wouldn’t speak rudely to others, we wouldn’t vandalize property that wasnt ours, we wouldn’t do anything that could put others in danger. We go to the mall to actually shop for ourselves or even loved ones, while at the same time being respectful and knowing of others.
Although it is different for others, there are groups of teenagers who don’t like to follow the rules and prefer to harass others who are simply looking to shop with family, friends, or whoever it may be. This group of kids is widely known among the people of Kern County, as they don’t just misbehave in the mall but also cause trouble on the streets with their bikes. They are often easy to recognize by their demeanor: they think nothing can touch them and are aggressive, disrespectful, selfish, and dishonest.
There have been instances of these groups of kids running, yelling at others, intimidating shoppers, and even putting others in danger. These are the many reasons why this petition was created in the first place.
“I go to the mall frequently to eat, shop, and watch movies, and on more than one occasion, my toddler has almost been run over or trampled by teens running through the mall or riding their bikes through the mall. It really has to end, and there is never mall security around when it occurs,” Brian said in a comment under the petition.
Punishing an entire age group for the actions of a few is not justice; it is convenience. Teenagers are individuals, not a single problem group. Many of us use the mall responsibly for shopping, eating, and socializing, just like adults do.
One thing is for sure: The mall is a place to come together to shop, dine, and socialize at various brands. Not a place to cause trouble by vandalizing property, harassing others who are shopping, and putting others’ lives at risk.
Parents and shoppers have every right to feel safe, especially when children are involved. Those concerns are real and should not be ignored. We need to do something about this issue; however, this can be resolved without banning all teenagers.
Instead, what we should do is increase security presence, remove individuals who are actually causing problems, and give consequences immediately, such as a big fine. Accountability should fall on actions, not age.
The mall should be a shared space for everyone, this includes families, adults, and teenagers. If we truly value fairness, then solutions must target bad behavior, not punish responsible teens for things they do not do.
