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October 27, 2004
Artists in Venice
There's a proposition on the ballot to initiate a one time $25 lifetime registration for all of the performers, hucksters, jugglers, mimes, soap box preachers, henna tatooers, sand scultors, massage therapists, buskers, breakdancers, glass walkers, fire eaters, freaks, wackos and assorted loonies that populate the boardwalk of Venice Beach. This will allow an organized lottery to regulate who gets which space on the overcrowded scene.
Do it.
The main complaint is that registration of artists leads to a police state, and this augers against free speech. Such arguements usually tug at my heartstrings, but as I thought about it, if Venice is already a 'free speech zone' as is its reputation, then what is so artistically creative about being at Venice Beach? Really creative people could make anyplace a haven for free expression.
Not really. Venice is Venice. People trade on its reputation to get their alternative alternatives on. A little organization never repressed a true spirit. This one allows the hacks to be Venice Beach Hacks. Sign 'em.
Posted by mbowen at October 27, 2004 08:30 AM
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