Cello Street Quartet set up in front of a closed Cliff's Variety on a Saturday night entertaining the Castro crowds.
The Examiner reports that last week Supervisor Scott Wiener introduced legislation at the Land Use Committee he heads that will help shut down street musicians who amplify their music, play endlessly or are considered to be nuisances.
Castro has its fair share of performers. A variety of musicians representing a wide array of musical genres gather at the corner of Castro and 18th, Jane Warner Plaza and other hot spots playing music for a living. Most are licensed and are aware of all the rules and regulations that govern them enacted by the City. Street performers can obtain permits through the Entertainment Commission to perform on sidewalks, but the costs can be out of reach for many who are using whatever talent they have to pay the bills and eat.
Usually violators without licenses or abusing the public with their entertainment would fall under the purview of SFPD. Sup. Wiener believes police resources are stretched too thin to keep up with all the complaints. His solution: call on the SF Dept. of Health to help. His proposed legislation allows Buskers to be cited by Dept. of Health inspectors for violating City laws around noise pollution when they're too loud or go on for too long.
Many neighborhood besides the Castro are battling with this issue. Around Union Square and the Powell/Market Street business district the cacophony of street musicians playing without a break in addition to construction and normal City street sounds reaches a deafening decibel that is driving local workers, business owners and visitors to the brink of madness.
“It would be nice if this goes through,” said Kevin Carroll, president of the Hotel Council for San Francisco. “They set up on the sidewalk and we get a lot by Union Square with electric guitars, amplifiers, generators, playing for hours on end. It causes problems for hotels.”
Late Nov. 2012 Gay musicians busking on the corner of 18th & Castro to appreciate crowds.
Visitors to local hotels have asked for refunds after being unable to get a moments rest when taking rooms near these world famous, San Francisco destinations.
Some Castro residents have complained about similar issues at recent town hall meetings that were initially called to discuss Castro neighborhood safety concerns. John Miller, a Castro resident for 13 years, has had enough. He wants to see unlicensed musicians fined and removed.
"I'm all for free enterprise and allowing people to be entertained, and I don't want to stop them from making money, but, to play non-stop, all night? One woman with her violin stood near 440 for six hours one night without ever taking a break for more then five minutes. It drives me crazy.", he said.
This legislation would also put more power into the hands of the Entertainment Commission. The same legislation also would further expand their mission and allow them to grant temporary permits when a business exchanges hands, for entertainment on patio and outdoor spaces, and for regulation of DJs. It would also close existing loopholes within current street entertainer licensing system.
The full Board is expected to discuss this new Wiener legislation on Tuesday.
-via Examiner
