Local

New Cocoa mayor wants to eliminate saggy pants ordinance

COCOA, Fla. — Sagging pants could soon be legal again in Cocoa.

Channel 9's Melonie Holt talked with Cocoa's new mayor about eliminating the ordinance before it takes effect on New Year's Day.

The November election brought new leadership to Cocoa and new concerns about the constitutionality of a saggy pants ordinance.

Unless Cocoa city leaders change course, anyone sagging their pants on city property could face a $25 fine come Jan. 1.

"We can pull 'em up 'till the police pass by, then we're going to do what we do," said resident Treamone Jenkins.

The city's newly elected mayor said that shouldn't be an issue, and he fears if the ordinance isn't repealed, it'll be costly for taxpayers.

"The last thing I want to do is go to a special meeting on a lawsuit and waste a lot of time when I could be moving our city forward," said Mayor Henry Parrish.

On Tuesday, Cocoa city leaders will hold a special meeting to reconsider the ordinance.

Central Brevard's National Association for the Advancement of Colored People president, Alberta Wilson, will be at the meeting, too.

Wilson said as much as she doesn't like saggy pants, she cares even less for the Cocoa's new ordinance.

"I wish the young people would find another way of expressing themselves. Be that as it may, we have to be out of our minds and sit back quietly while we give back some of our civil rights," Wilson said.

Wilson also worries the ordinance would lead to police profiling.

"Why ask for trouble? Why step into trouble? We're not going to do it," said Parrish.

The city attorney already has the language drafted to repeal the ordinance if City Council decides to move in that direction.