Hotter at the Coast
There seems to be a recent outbreak of lawless firedancing in Portsmouth. It would be one thing if the dancer were in a fire retardant suit, but apparently she's a belly dancer. And the lawlessness doesn't just end at playing with fire. Apparently first amendment rights are at stake. Hide the children.
From the Manchester Union Leader, November 30, 2006:
Fire dancer tells her side of story
By CAROL ROBIDOUX
Portsmouth - Lara Rines never meant to be a lawbreaker. She never meant to startle pedestrians or violate whatever city ordinances dictate fire dancing on the streets.
She just wanted to dance with fire and dazzle the holiday shopping crowd enough to earn a little holiday cash.
But last week, when she found a vacant patch of brick in front of North Church on Market Street and began twirling flaming sticks to music, she was promptly shut down by police, who charged her with reckless conduct and failure to have a permit.
Rines, of Dover, said she tried to get a permit, but got no clear answers from city officials. "Nobody knew exactly how to answer my question. I tried the fire department first and eventually spoke with (Deputy Fire Chief Stephen Griswold). I explained that I would be in control of the fire, and that it wouldn't be a large fire," Rines said.
He told her she didn't need a fire permit, but should find out if she needed a permit to dance for donations.
So Rines called City Hall. She said after explaining the nature of her fire dance, she was told she should check with the fire department. "They were fuzzy. Nobody seemed to know what kind of permit I needed."
Portsmouth Mayor Evelyn Sirrell said the procedure for anyone interested in performing is to write a letter to the city manager. She said the fact that Rines was performing with fire had nothing to do with why she was arrested.
"She could've scared somebody to death," Sirrell said. "In most cases, we're very open. I'm not sure what category her entertainment fits into, but she would likely have had to hire police as well, for safety issues."
When Rines stands before a judge on Dec. 12, she said she will not be standing alone as one fire dancer interested in her own freedom of expression.
She will be standing up for all those street performers who believe their First Amendment rights are being jeopardized by what, she says, are the city's inconsistent laws governing street performers.
"I believe performance artists are the heart of a community - growing up, I loved going into Boston. Without that, it's just another place with big buildings and noise," said Rines.
David O'Connor of Barrington, a longtime political activist and fellow street performer, said the city's insistence on regulating artists is a form of censorship.
"The concept that a government body or group needs to be consulted for you to express yourself freely is clearly covered in the First Amendment," O'Connor said. "We as performers are dealing with the precedents set around the country, invariably in favor of performers."
O'Connor says cities set up ordinances with good intentions that fall flat in the arena of personal freedom.
"These shotgun blast sort of ordinances are set up with the perception of protecting the flavor of the city or ambiance of the town. But they cannot, nor do they, override our First Amendment rights as performers," O'Connor said.
On that point he has the backing of Massachusetts-based Community Arts Advocates Inc. - a street performance rights organization.
"Street performance has been well-established in this country - Ben Franklin sang on the streets, as did Sam Adams. It's part of the cultural heritage of humanity - and most definitely part of our culture here in New England," said Stephen Baird, executive director and organization founder.
He's done his legal research and has amassed a pile of documented cases where, time after time, street performers - often called buskers - have won their right to sing, whistle, dance, wax poetic, juggle and make magic on city streets across the country.
A street performer himself, Baird said he's in the midst of a lawsuit with the city of Boston over his right to play the hammer dulcimer.
"What Lara Rines is going through is a typical issue for buskers. In her case, my feeling is the city should be advocating for and supporting street performance. Clearly, she tried to get a permit and couldn't get accurate information. At best, it's a matter of poor public policy," Baird said. "But just as clearly, it's discrimination against the artist, which is illegal."
O'Connor said Rines no longer has the choice to simply walk away from Portsmouth and take her fire dance elsewhere.
"She has to go to court now - and I'm with her. We're not the only ones, either. There are others, street performers waiting in the wings, ready to make a stand," O'Connor said. "The importance of doing this is in the effort of resistance. It's the only way a free society remains truly free."
From the Manchester Union Leader, November 30, 2006:
Fire dancer tells her side of story
By CAROL ROBIDOUX
Portsmouth - Lara Rines never meant to be a lawbreaker. She never meant to startle pedestrians or violate whatever city ordinances dictate fire dancing on the streets.
She just wanted to dance with fire and dazzle the holiday shopping crowd enough to earn a little holiday cash.
But last week, when she found a vacant patch of brick in front of North Church on Market Street and began twirling flaming sticks to music, she was promptly shut down by police, who charged her with reckless conduct and failure to have a permit.
Rines, of Dover, said she tried to get a permit, but got no clear answers from city officials. "Nobody knew exactly how to answer my question. I tried the fire department first and eventually spoke with (Deputy Fire Chief Stephen Griswold). I explained that I would be in control of the fire, and that it wouldn't be a large fire," Rines said.
He told her she didn't need a fire permit, but should find out if she needed a permit to dance for donations.
So Rines called City Hall. She said after explaining the nature of her fire dance, she was told she should check with the fire department. "They were fuzzy. Nobody seemed to know what kind of permit I needed."
Portsmouth Mayor Evelyn Sirrell said the procedure for anyone interested in performing is to write a letter to the city manager. She said the fact that Rines was performing with fire had nothing to do with why she was arrested.
"She could've scared somebody to death," Sirrell said. "In most cases, we're very open. I'm not sure what category her entertainment fits into, but she would likely have had to hire police as well, for safety issues."
When Rines stands before a judge on Dec. 12, she said she will not be standing alone as one fire dancer interested in her own freedom of expression.
She will be standing up for all those street performers who believe their First Amendment rights are being jeopardized by what, she says, are the city's inconsistent laws governing street performers.
"I believe performance artists are the heart of a community - growing up, I loved going into Boston. Without that, it's just another place with big buildings and noise," said Rines.
David O'Connor of Barrington, a longtime political activist and fellow street performer, said the city's insistence on regulating artists is a form of censorship.
"The concept that a government body or group needs to be consulted for you to express yourself freely is clearly covered in the First Amendment," O'Connor said. "We as performers are dealing with the precedents set around the country, invariably in favor of performers."
O'Connor says cities set up ordinances with good intentions that fall flat in the arena of personal freedom.
"These shotgun blast sort of ordinances are set up with the perception of protecting the flavor of the city or ambiance of the town. But they cannot, nor do they, override our First Amendment rights as performers," O'Connor said.
On that point he has the backing of Massachusetts-based Community Arts Advocates Inc. - a street performance rights organization.
"Street performance has been well-established in this country - Ben Franklin sang on the streets, as did Sam Adams. It's part of the cultural heritage of humanity - and most definitely part of our culture here in New England," said Stephen Baird, executive director and organization founder.
He's done his legal research and has amassed a pile of documented cases where, time after time, street performers - often called buskers - have won their right to sing, whistle, dance, wax poetic, juggle and make magic on city streets across the country.
A street performer himself, Baird said he's in the midst of a lawsuit with the city of Boston over his right to play the hammer dulcimer.
"What Lara Rines is going through is a typical issue for buskers. In her case, my feeling is the city should be advocating for and supporting street performance. Clearly, she tried to get a permit and couldn't get accurate information. At best, it's a matter of poor public policy," Baird said. "But just as clearly, it's discrimination against the artist, which is illegal."
O'Connor said Rines no longer has the choice to simply walk away from Portsmouth and take her fire dance elsewhere.
"She has to go to court now - and I'm with her. We're not the only ones, either. There are others, street performers waiting in the wings, ready to make a stand," O'Connor said. "The importance of doing this is in the effort of resistance. It's the only way a free society remains truly free."
posted by carpoolguy at 8:53 AM
0 comments
