The Town of Ocean City has been struggling with the proliferation of street performers on the Boardwalk for several years. Issues have grown as the number of performers increase every year and the acts become more disturbing from spray paint fumes to costumed characters to a pole dancer. However, court rulings in recent years protecting street performer’s First Amendment right have prevented the town from strictly regulating the acts on the Boardwalk.
Last month a Boardwalk Task Force was created to specifically look into these concerns. Mayor Rick Meehan recommended five members to serve on the task force, starting with Chair Greg Shockley, owner of Shenanigan’s on the Boardwalk and Ocean City Development Corporation board member; Frank Knight, representing the Boardwalk Development Committee; Lee Gerachis, owner of Malibu’s Surf Shop on the Boardwalk; Bob Rothermel, representing the Downtown Association; and street performer Mark Chase. The mayor also recommended the staff liaisons be City Manager David Recor and Ocean City Police Lt. Mark Pacini.
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12 comments:
Just hire a bunch of kids to go running through their performing area and trash their work.
Personally I enjoy the performers. Often the only time I go to OC in the summer is after dark to enjoy the cooler night air and listen and observe the performers.
Sometimes there is some real talent there and I love the sound of some of the unique instruments that some of the performers play.
What's up with that dudes hat? Just sayin.
Is that guy, on the bench, really wearing a fedora and sunglasses? Seriously? And the other lady has that "I'm not really paying attention to you, but I will continue eye contact so you think I am" look on her face.
That hat - and he wearing it in that particular venue - totally signifies the attitude that "street performer" has for the tradition and respect for the Town of Ocean City.
You want to sell your "art"? Rent a space, dammit.
Make the best spots a more costly permit. Less favorable less costly
How 'bout a commission to screen the performers to make sure they really have some sort of talent and aren't just loony-crazy?
The Boardwalk is for walking and strolling; it's akin to a street.
Put them on the sand against the back of the boardwalk facing the ocean. Give them 10 or 12 foot block to work in. Folks can look over the seawall at them or go down on the sand to observe.
Win-win. Meets the spirit of 'right to swing my fist ends before contacting your nose'. I can walk without being impeded and they can perform.
OC Revenue agents can deal with permits, taxes, etc.
Put them in booths or assigned spaces, but more importantly, put them where they are in the "tax district", whereas they enjoy cash income, all the other brick and mortar stores around them pay sales and entertainment/ use tax; they don't.
They need to.
They need a POS register just like all the rest, and "Z" out the register at the end of the day. Right or wrong?
And, hey, if they took credit cards, maybe their income would increase.
Here's a crazy thought, leave them alone. They are trying to make a living and the government of OC are trying to squeeze them out because they don't fit in with their "image"
Here's another crazy thought: Let them set up (pole dancer and all) on the public sidewalk on your street directly in front of your house. It is completely within their rights to do that.
All they are doing is maintaining their rights under the 2nd Amendment, and you certainly wouldn't want to stand in the way of the Constitution, would you?
When they move into your street, get back to me.
That's not seriously the Ocean City Town Council, is it? Is this for real? Is that guy wearing a hat and sunglasses??????
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