New Ocean Front Ordinance Redefines Free Speech, Handicrafts
By Erica
Snowlake
cops walking the beat, jes
like ol’ times. that was the scene Saturday and Sunday, March 25 and 26 on
the Venice Boardwalk.
these pedestrian cops were eyeballing,
others could say censoring, the wares of the vendors on the west side of the
boardwalk with the intended deliberate enforcement of yet another new ordinance,
this one banning commercial vending, items of more than nominal use, and
especially coming down hard on t-shirts, among other nefarious things. the
psychics were out in full force, however, being immune to such scrutiny.
while it is generally considered
beneficial to outcast the plastic, made in China tchotchkes, it is somewhat
incomprehensible and unfair banning unique works of art by diverse multicultural
artisans under the blanket term “jewelry,” painting and music are
seemingly encouraged, though the tunes may only be heard radiating from under 50
feet away. quiet, now that’s the spirit of the beach!
no doubt the powers that be will be
going back to the ordinance draftboard for round three. as far as enforcement
goes, a few citations were issued, and like round one with the lottery system,
arrests were threatened and made to seem seriously imminent and
forthcoming.
a statement from beloved
and controversial vegan and animal rights activist Jingles follows, who was told
to cut his stand down from twenty feet to ten feet and issued a citation in the
process.
“Has Venice Boardwalk
become a non-commercial free zone? I think not. Due to the new ordinance I can
no longer sell my political t-shirts, ones that express my constitutional 1st
Amendment rights. i can show them for display purposes only. Offering these for
sale or donation is now illegal and will lead to citation and arrest. Please
help defend and save free speech on Venice Beach.
Contact
<councilman.rosendahl@lacity.org>.
Posted: Sat
- April 1, 2006 at 12:22 PM