By Neal Pollack
Essentially, the law would abolish street music downtown.
The American Civil Liberties Union filed a suit on behalf of a banjo player named Walter Friedrich, arguing that the ordinance unfairly singled out performances from other forms of speech in public places. In 1985, U.S. District Court judge Marvin Aspen struck down the law.
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“We live in an environment where we’re trying to have a mixed residential and business community. We’re getting inundated with bikes. We’re getting inundated with rollerbladers. We’re getting inundated with hikers. The street performers are really exacerbating this problem. The noise! You don’t hear it from down the street! You hear it up in the air! It resonates! I’ve had CEOs of banks complain, I’ve had CEOs of businesses. I have people coming home from work, and they cannot enjoy their lives!
“Right now you have a drummer who drums over in front of Marshall Field’s. You cannot conduct business with that going on!
“I have another noise problem. I’m gonna ask that all windows be closed. In saloons.” He looked up at me proudly. “It’ll happen,” he said.
Natarus said people have to understand that he has many decisions to make. These require patience and nearly Solomonic wisdom.
