A couple of groups of nasties could ruin busking for all of

Whistle
1

Thanks to two really nasty groups of people…the so-called “career houseless” (people who believe they have a right to live on the streets and to aggressively solicit donations from passersby) and a bunch of drugged out bongo drummers who believe they have a religious right to bang their drums whenever and wherever they please, buskers in Santa Cruz may someday have to buy permits, that, among other things, will limit the length of time they can play in a given location and could require them to move on if anyone takes exception to their being there.

The sad thing is, the buskers have never been part of the problem in downtown Santa Cruz (in fact, they’ve been one of the things that have made it such an attractive place to shop or dine). Neither have the legitimate homeless people, who have long relied on the generousity of Santa Cruzans to get them over the rough spots. Basically, we had two gangs move in here about two years ago…the self-styled “career houseless” and the drum circles…who proceded to take over downtown and turn it into a highly unpleasant place to be (these people are really aggressive in asserting their “rights,” and often highly intimidating and abusive). Finally the city was forced to pass some pretty strong panhandling laws…and the buskers are getting caught in the crossfire.

The situation now is, while street performers are temporarily exempt from the anti-panhandling laws, no one (including the police) is really clear on when and how the laws are to be enforced (and the “gangs” are quick to hassle anyone they think is getting away with something, often turning their ire on some poor guy with an open guitar case receiving “donations” in areas where they’re not allowed to beg). It’s a tough time to be a busker in Santa Cruz, because you never know who’s going to get on your case, or when you will be either asked to move along by a policeman (or even ticketed…that’s happening too) or forced to move along by a crowd of threatening “house-free” gangsters.

I would really hate to see buskers forced to license themselves in order to ply their trade, but it looks like that may be where we’re headed :frowning:.

I thought I’d bring this up here in light of our earlier busking discussions, just to highlight how important it is to know both the laws of your area and the tenor of the street before you put out a hat. If things can get to this point in liberal, laid-back Santa Cruz…

Permitting](http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/archive/2002/November/20/local/stories/02local.htm%22%3EPermitting) process debated for SC buskers

Sad Redwolf :frowning:

2

It’s a sign of the times, I guess, Redwolf.

3

Man, why don’t those people just get a life!

And about the busking, couldn’t you just stand and play and not accept donations?? I would think that the ‘nasties’ couldn’t raise a hullabaloo about it all if it was done that way… Simply b/c you’re not accepting money. (The police would probably not blink an eye either.) If I was a street performer, I’d play and probably have a sign that said “No Donations please; My reward is knowing you enjoy my music”

Or something to that effect…

Just a thought. :slight_smile:

4

Yes, you can just stand and play, at least for now, but for many of the buskers, this is their living or, at the least, an important source of supplementary income.

I don’t normally play downtown, or, for that matter, solicit tips anymore, so this doesn’t really affect me. I just find it irritating and sad that, in the short space of two years, a group of thugs has changed the friendly and accommodating face of downtown Santa Cruz so radically.

Redwolf

5

I think it’s sad too. Santa Cruz is such a nice place.

6

Yes, it is quite irritating when one or two small groups of people ruin everything for the rest of us. :frowning: