After months of heated discussion, the City of Saratoga Springs has enacted new regulations regarding street performers.
Sawyer Fredericks took the top prize on NBC’s The Voice Tuesday night, but it wasn’t long ago the Fultonville teenager was performing on the busy summer streets of Saratoga.
For months, city leaders, business owners, and buskers alike have been battling over proposed regulations to regulate such buskers.
Businesses complained of distracting noise and blocked entranceways; performers argued for freedom of expression and the right to occupy public space. Many have observed an increase in buskers on Broadway in recent years in the city’s booming downtown.
At a meeting held last month, magician Steven Brundage said he would support some regulation.
“But if they put too many restrictions it’s definitely going to hurt some people as far, you know, if they limit the time you can perform, limit the spots, that’s definitely going to hurt the artists who want to express themselves.”
One of the most controversial proposals considered was requiring street performers to obtain a permit and to pay a licensing fee. But in the end, those items were dropped. Saratoga Springs mayor Joanne Yepsen…
“We got rid of that a couple of months ago and decided that we would not take that step this ear, but merely just looking at three aspects, and that’s time, manner, and space.”
Under the new rules a performer cannot generate sound louder than 80 decibels at a distance of 50 feet and may only perform between 10 a.m. and 12 midnight. A performer can not perform within 50 feet of another performer or a special event. Restrictions also keep performers out of handicapped parking spaces, away from bus stops, driveways, curbs, and driveways, and business entrances.
Also banned are electrical cords, fire, animals, large signs, and firearms.
Anyone violating the law would be issued an appearance ticket by the city police department and could face fines and penalties.
The city council voted 4-1 for the measure. Finance Commissioner Michele Madigan was the lone “nay”…
“Busking…I don’t think it’s a problem. The ordinance is going to pass. It’s not that strong of an ordinance. I still believe that what’s here can be integrated into noise and streets and sidewalks and make for something that pertains to everyone and not particular populace here in the City of Saratoga Springs,” said Madigan.
Mayor Yepsen said the new regulations are a sign of the city’s success in recent years and said they’re a good start.
“And we’ll obviously reevaluate and tweak it as we go along and as we need to, but again, I feel really good about the result of this, both in terms of the process and the product.”
The new regulations are now going into effect as the busy summertime season kicks into gear.
