On 2002-02-11 12:31, Bloomfield wrote:
Anna, I don’t quite follow your story. Who is this woman, why is she in a position to outlaw whistle-playing? Is it a municipal ordinance, and if so, what does it say about noise/street music? Does it apply to public areas only? And who hands out licenses, and to whom?
As for calling people fascists and proclaiming yourself to be on the warpath, I think there is still good sense in the old adage: suaviter in mode, fortiter in re. “Gentle in manner, firm in the matter.”
Good luck.
Bloomfield, Deadwood still is the Wild West-Gold Camp town it was in 1876. For many people this is incomprehensible!
This woman is part of an obscenely wealthy family who owns about 1/4 of the town. (pop. 1,500) She is on the Chamber Board of Directors, and has two family members on the City Council! Many of us, not in the casino business feel that casino interests are over represented. Although the anti-whistling directive is from the Chamber and is NOT law, some casino owners feel free to use the police force as they wish to try to shut down comeptition! Apparently, my refusal to bow to their “we only let certain people” mentality has made me competition somehow. I was talking to a banjo player last night, and she was telling me how a casino hired her, offered her a split on the money they made on the inside of the casino…she made all of three bucks a day, for a few days. So much for right to work laws. Deadwood is one of the most corrupt places I’ve ever been, bar none, dirty Chicago politics does not hold a candle to Deadwood. Sheesh, the country commissioners have secret illegal meetings in basements all the time, the judges are in the pockets of the major businesses here, too. Of course this is illegal, they can’t bust me for dressing funny or being pudgy, they can’t bust the re-enactors for carrying non-concealed fake guns…and they can’t bust me for sitting on a bench playing a whistle in front of a business from which I have permission. I cannot accept tips, that is soliciting, and theorectically I cannot be out on a sidewalk soliciting business, although it happens all the time, as long as people are not on city property. The Chamber is the one handing out the special permits, but only to this woman and her troupe of players!
I have refused to knuckle under, and usually have a snippy reply for when I get the “We only let certain people” do whatever! As a freelance writer and news photographer, you can see why this kind of mentality would threaten my income. I usually just say something like “Oh, yeah? I got work to do. Goodbye.” and go about doing my job. The Chamber, is handing out permits, but only to “certain” people. This is clearly meant to keep undesirables out! They are working hard to keep Wild Bill Hickok and Calmity Jane (who put Deadwood on the map in the first place) re-enactors off the streets and to close down the other theater, which is one of two places in Deadwood that is suitable for family entertainment. It’s not a profitable theater, and is off the main street, and is also an 85 year old tradition here.
All of this is pretty typical, most street performers last one year, I’ve been here for five now! Being a personable person doesn’t help!
I would agree with you about gentle/firm under normal circumstances. These are not normal circumstances, and I have accepted my role as a pain in the ass, rebellious, nasty and otherwise non-conformist! I can accomplish much more with my Yippie politics of the absurd and challenging these control geeks directly than I can by any other process. Anyhow, last time I was busted, the judge dissmised the case, he knew it was harrassment, but at least these cases always get to court!
The town noise ordinance says 10 PM, the casinos ingore it. It is considered a rite of passage for anybody new to Deadwood and setitng up a new business to go to jail. one guy, from New York, took a nasty, expensive dope paraphenalia bust for selling corn cob pipes in his tobacco shop. He was acquitted. Another friend, from New Jersy, and and Casino/bar owner took a Pontifer’s bust for date rape, and was acquited by 12 good men…and the coffee shop owner…and Anna, the photographer…money and power buy the law. It took the feds to shut down the last of the bordellos in 1985. It’ll take the feds to free employees around here from being totally exploited, all casinos are in violation of Federal Labor Law.
The law around here is for the convenience of the rich and powerful, Oh, we still kiss tourist butt, but we milk those gamblers like cows. I am not rich nor powerful, but I am the best pain in the ass this town has ever seen! It behooves me to be modern Deadwood’s answer to Calamity Jane!
It’s a common saying around here that is you came here in 1876, you struck gold, you were OK, but if you came in 1877 and staked a claim and stuck gold, they’d shoot you in the back and take it from you. They still do that! I kid you not! This is definitely a them vs. us situation!
Let it shine! Calamity Anna Martinez
[ This Message was edited by: Anna Martinez on 2002-02-11 14:56 ]
