Street performers may get new rules in Santa Cruz
UPDATE 5/14/14: City staff will now work on drafting a six-month “trial” ordinance considering designating areas for street performers. This trial ordinance won’t be presented to city council until July.
New rules may be coming to the sidewalks in one very popular Central Coast destination. The City of Santa Cruz said it’s brainstorming new ways to mark where street performers can play and vendors can sell. On Tuesday night we found out what the city is considering as it works with the art community and businesses to come up with a better plan.
“Things have been a little more clear for us because we’ve been coming out here for a while and the rules were different at first and we kinda went through this grey area,” said street vendor Mike Sanguinetti of Farm Fresh To You.
That gray area is what Santa Cruz said it’s looking to define. The city said some rules were too restrictive, pushing out some famous street performers like ‘The Great Morgani.’
The city said it hasn’t been easy for performers and vendors to know if they’re exactly where 14 feet is away from a business. So specifically marking it on the ground might be a simpler option.
“Visible space for street performers and street vendors in a way that creates an easier was to enforce our laws but also presents a welcoming environment,” said assistant to the city manager of Santa Cruz, Scott Collins.
With that idea, comes concern for the way the spots would look aesthetically and monitoring free speech. Some performers think more rules may create more problems.
“Might be a little more of a competition, I mean if they’re actually designating areas and there’s street performers that all want to come out on the same day,” said Sanguinetti.
“There isn’t a problem, they think it has something to do with fighting homelessness, they’ve got small town ideas that are inefficient,” said street performer Ricardo Lopez.
But efficiency is exactly what the city said it’s after, hoping specifically marked spots will also make it easier for police to monitor. The city said the rules are still a work in progress. The plan to discuss the issue again in about a month.
