Disrespectful Students Could Be Punished For Bad Behavior At Haddonfield Businesses

HADDONFIELD, NJ — Downtown Haddonfield business owners are frustrated with students' disrespectful behavior in their shops and their attitudes towards staff, the mayor says.

Mayor Colleen Biano Bezich said she has received "multiple requests" from business owners and employees to help curb students' bad behavior. Bezich posted a Facebook note Thursday, asking Haddonfield Middle School parents in particular to "speak with your tweens/teens about showing respect and being mindful of their surroundings."

"It is not appropriate to curse at cashiers, punch people, deliberately damage products & displays, or throw bikes into the paths of pedestrians," Bezich wrote.

Haddonfield Police also shared the post and encouraged parents to read it, as did the Partnership for Haddonfield and Downtown Haddonfield.

"We are disappointed by the careless actions of a few "bullies" that would show such disdain and disrespect towards what so many people have tirelessly worked to accomplish," PfH members said in a Facebook post.

"We invite parents in Haddonfield and neighboring communities, who want to support local businesses, to engage with their children to curb this behavior. We cannot accomplish our goal to manage and maintain a successful community of independently owned businesses if this behavior does not cease."

Bezich warned troublemakers could be cited, or become the subject "of an upcoming after school special."

"Bottom Line: The bad behavior is a problem. And, we can only solve the problem by working together," she said.