S.F. Police crack down on street performers

[Frisbee]

This email was sent to me earlier today.
This may affect anyone who wants to work the streets in San Francisco.

-Frisbee
_______________________________________
TO ALL STREET PERFORMERS: On March 10 of 2004, I attended a hearing in
> the
> San Francisco Hall of Justice in a failed attempt to secure a permit to
> sell my
> CDs on the streets around the Wharf as I have done for many years until
> the
> recent police action against anyone selling CDs or using a sound
> amplification
> system. The SFPD recommended against granting me a Peddler Permit
> which was
> the expected outcome, but I did pose a larger question to the police
> hearing.
> STEPHEN DREYFUSS: "As a thirteen-year veteran musician in the
> Fisherman's
> Wharf area, I have performed both in the private mall areas and
> public spaces
> playing saxophone, selling my own CDs. Since mid-December of 2003
> there has
> been a thorough crackdown by the San Francisco Police Department on ALL
> public
> performers, musicians, jugglers, magicians and novelty acts, through
> the
> zealous enforcement of MPC 869 (selling without a permit) and the
> various sound
> ordinances, 29 through 49. Are you or anyone in the SFPD aware of this
> action,
> and if so, why is it happening?
>
> POLICE CAPTAIN: "O.K. I do not make policy for the department and I'm
> not
> in a position to state the departments' policy with regards to that.
> If you
> have concerns in those regards, I suggest you write a letter to the
> chief of
> police inquiring as to any changes. I CAN say that if these
> performances are
> conducted in violation of the law, that the enforcement efforts are
> legitimate
> and warranted particularly (I don't work at that station) and
> frequently they
> stem from complaints of merchants, from citizens or from landlords,
> i.e. either
> The Port, Rec. and Park or whoever that may be." (Hearing concluded)
>
> Anyone working in the Fisherman's' Wharf area as a street entertainer
> in the
> past few months is familiar with the police action against ALL such
> activity.
> I strongly believe that as entertainers, we all in our own way give
> pleasure
> to the general public and offer a wholesome amusement and diversion to
> San
> Francisco visitors. The recent crackdown has resulted in several
> arrests, the
> issuance of dozens of citations, and numerous tense confrontations with
> the
> SFPD as well as the confiscation of property. Some entertainers have
> suggested
> we need to counter this police action with a grand gesture such as
> another more
> dramatic and public arrest and attendant publicity.
> I am uncertain how to proceed. All I know is: WE ARE LOSING THIS
> STRUGGLE
> I have enjoyed the freedom and exhilaration of street performing for
> many
> years. I have spent thousands of dollars and hundreds of hours
> researching legal
> issues in an effort to gain some sort of legitimacy for this type of
> work.
> There is now no question that the whole "STREET ARTIST PROGRAM" and the
> fabled
> "PEDDLERS PERMIT" are NOT viable solutions to our problems. I strongly
>
> believe the only option at this point is to lobby the SF Board of
> Supervisors and
> make our concerns known to them. We need to organize ourselves with
> our own
> lobbying, legal and publicity campaigns. If enough people would like
> to join in
> this effort, we all stand to gain. If not, by June or July there will
> not be
> a single entertainer working on the streets of San Francisco.
> Best wishes for us all,
> Stephen Dreyfuss

[jester]

dialogue

I would suggest that all those affected, get together, have a chat and then seek dialogue with the powers that be.

Why is there a permit scheme? Is it an unfair one? One of the main reason people complain about vendors is because their business is riddled with law, administration, obligation and tax while apparently street vendors profit highly from a simple life.

My argument to the retail outlets that complain is: Do you wish to sell my CDs for me?

Sometimes it is because the same musician plays the same two songs over and over for several hours at a time driving the workers nuts.

Other times it is because the mall is charging premium rents.

And sometimes it is because the security guard has nothing better to do.

We had a permit scheme in salisbury which was only ever enforced in the event of nuisance. Now they just have by laws and a buskers code. If a performer breaks the code the police can excercise the law and move them on. It doesn't often happen. We like our performers, but then not many attend.

If you are a performer passing salisbury Tuesdays and Saturdays are best. Friday and Saturday evenings are good with a lot of people walking around the pubs.