The Kids Aren't Alright

I'm currently interning at a local community paper.

It's so boring I could die.

I mean, the people are nice and I'm learning stuff, but there isn't a whole lot for me to do there. Repeatedly checking my email gets old fast.

This morning, the nice managing editor man took pity on me and sent me on a field trip to the library to find some old articles from the paper on microfilm. It was awesome! And not just because I got to eat lunch at Manchu Wok, neither. I also unearthed this gem from the 60s:

The North York Mirror

Aug. 26, 1964

Goof-ballers and teen drunks like our centre

Don Mills centre has become one of Metro’s meeting places for goofball-doped and drunken teenagers.

Bruce Pattison, general manager of shopping centres for Don Mills developments, says: "Don Mills is no exception to teenage vandalism. There is no question about it, and there’s no use hiding it, vandalism is a problem in all shopping centres, not just one."

He notes that ‘gangs’ often roam from shopping centre to shopping centre.

"The automobile has made it easier to travel, they can get around more."

He warns it would be unfair to say all the vandals come from outside the area.
"It might be nice to think that they are from the outside, but every area, no matter what its economic condition is, has its share of delinquents."

Don Mills shopping centre has a policeman on duty at nights to help, but Pattison says not all centres can afford special guards.

Geoffrey Still, manager of Don Mills centre, says they are dealing with vandalism in a "very strict sense". He says the policy now is to charge anybody who is caught.
Still lists knifed awnings, broken and uprooted trees, defaced signs and broken exit and entrance lights as examples of vandalism.

He blames it on "a small minority living the wrong kind of life."

According to Still most of the vandals are 10 to 14 year olds and 16 to 22 year old "ne’er-do-wells".

"Most of the damage occurs late at night or early in the morning when they are drunk."

He says the youngsters may be suffering from "tremendous boredom" (ed's note: There was rampant boredom in North York/Scarborough 40 years ago? Hmm. Plus ca change.)

Still describes their reaction to any type of authority as a "get-even" attitude. That is, no matter what you tell them, they feel they have to get even.

He adds that since the police have been on duty, costing the centre $80 a week, the vandalism has been reduced.

If anyone knows what "goofballs" actually are, please clue me in. I do declare I would like to get hepped-up on them.

(Now playing: "She's Losing It", Belle & Sebastian)