Astrologer sees signs of unfair treatment

The San Francisco Examiner ^ | January 26, 2004 | Dwana Simone Bain

[FeliciaCat]

Astrologer sees signs of unfair treatment Businesswoman fights decades-old license fee system.

SAN MATEO -- In her job as an astrologer, Elizabeth Barton looks for signs, and the biggest sign she sees these days is a history of discrimination in San Mateo.

The $500 business license fee for astrologists, psychics and other new-age businesses is incomparable to any other fee in the city, she said. And San Mateo officials admit the "mediumship" fee is among the highest business license fees in the city.

"It's bizarre," Barton said. "People are so prejudiced against anything new age."

The astrologer is part of a nationwide movement -- led by The Association for Astrological Networking -- to overturn laws overly restricting the practice of astrology. "They are doing this all over the country city-by-city, county-by-county," Barton said.

She is doing her share of the work by starting with San Mateo and happily reports that the campaign to reduce the tax is making progress. City Finance Director John de Russy recently announced he would recommend the fee be rescinded. He is suggesting that the city charge business owners based upon gross business receipts -- about $25 for every $30,000 in revenue.

Two years ago, Barton -- a former police officer and astrology student of 30 years -- opened her doors in San Mateo. When she questioned the cost of the license, she claims a clerk told her, "We don't want what you do here."

The law, which has been on the books categorizes astrology as "mediumship." Barton says her business has nothing to do with speaking to spirits, likening her job to that of a stockbroker. She charts trends. But then, many businesses are lumped under the city's "mediumship" definition.

The ordinance encompasses, "Every person who carries on, practices, or professes to practice the business or art of astrology, palmistry, phrenology, life-reading, fortune telling, cartomancy, clairvoyance, clairaudience, crystal-gazing, hypnotism, mediumship, prophecy, augury, divination, magic or necromancy, and demands or receives a fee for the exercise or exhibition of his art therein, directly or indirectly, either as a gift, donation or otherwise, or who gives an exhibition thereof at any place where admission is charged."

San Mateo City Attorney Shawn Mason said the ordinance has undergone several amendments, but it dates back to at least 1959. The same language is contained in a city codebook dated that year. However, in 1959, such a license was more costly -- $100 a day.

Barton said she believes the city originally imposed the fees to keep business like hers away and views the decrease of the license fee as a way of reducing astrology's stigma.

"Astrology is sort of like a person's mistress," she said. "They don't want to admit they use it."

Assistant City Attorney Dennis Caines said the law was not intended to prevent people like Barton from doing business in San Mateo. The ordinance is a police-driven statute from a time when some people posed as psychics or healers would swindle unsuspecting citizens.

"That's what I think the ordinance was originally intended to prevent," he said.

San Mateo officials point out the charge is conservative compared with neighboring cities. Belmont charges $350 every six months for a "fortune telling and occult practices" permit. East Palo Alto requires a $2,400 annual fee for a "fortune telling," license, which includes "palmistry, astrology, spiritism or fortune telling of any kind or nature."

Mason said cities often charge different license rates for different types of businesses.

Legally, cities can make whatever classifications they wish "as long is there is a rational basis for doing so," he said.

[Seruzawa]

Astrologers should be treated exactly as marriage counsellors, psychologists, etc are. All those professions have about the same success with people.

[T'wit]

Astrologers and psychics SHOULD pay more. They see the future so they can just go win the lottery every time they need some cash.

[thoughtomator]

I agree. They should all be put away for fraud, equally. Except the ADD/ADHD industry, those jerks should be put away on four million+ counts of child abuse.

[UCANSEE2]

These people want to exploit the lucrative markets of Palm-reading,tarot,astrology where they bilk the public and the feel like they are being screwed when their own local governments want a percentage.

[FeliciaCat]

I'm a bit torn on this one...I know that the higher fines are meant to "weed out" the con artists and there have been sad stories of people who have been swindled, but to punish ALL astrologers with a higher fee then the norm doesnt sound right to me.

[TheBigB]

I don't believe in astrology. We Scorpios are skeptical.

[DannyTN]

I disagree about the marriage counsellors and psychologists. Some of them are frauds, but I think some of them really help people. Astrologers are always frauds.

However I think that Marriage Counsellors should have to provide statistics on the percent of their clients who eventually divorce vs those that stay together. They should also have to disclose their views on the sanctity of marriange and on divorce up front. Too many of them, throw their hands up at the slightest problem and say, yall should just divorce.

[MineralMan]

"Astrologers should be treated exactly as marriage counsellors, psychologists, etc are. All those professions have about the same success with people.
"

And about the same as financial planners and stockbrokers. Let all these fortune-tellers pay the same fee.

[Lunatic Fringe]

Two years ago, Barton -- a former police officer and astrology student of 30 years -- opened her doors in San Mateo. When she questioned the cost of the license, she claims a clerk told her, "We don't want what you do here."

Which is perfectly within the rights of the city.

[Johnny_Cipher]

I knew you were going to post this. Yesterday.

[T'wit]

My comment was tongue-in-cheek but not pointless. If fortune tellers could really see the future, they could make billions of dollars in the stock market, or gambling, or a hundred other ways.

My real opinion is that nobody should be licensed for any service. It's simply government extortion -- "protection" that you have to pay before they'll let you do what you do. End it all.

[EggsAckley]

"I don't believe in astrology. We Scorpios are skeptical."

LOL ! ! !

[RightWhale]

The $500 business license fee for astrologists, psychics and other new-age businesses is incomparable to any other fee in the city, she said

There are more charlatans in the business than any other business including Enron. Homeless bums and worse have been making a living this way since the beginning of time. Pre-judgement? Yes.

[Tacis]

If she were any good as an astrologer, she'd know that all she has to do to get the fee cut WAY back, is to identify herslef as THE GAY ASTROLOGER or THE AFRO-AMERICAN ASTROLOGER and the Californians would fall over themselves being sensitive, understanding and inclusive. Sell "fresh seafood," not "dead fish."

[talleyman]

She didn't see this coming?...

[UCANSEE2]

My real opinion is that nobody should be licensed for any service. It's simply government extortion -- "protection" that you have to pay before they'll let you do what you do. End it all.

Don't believe I can agree with this. If the license doesn't include a guarantee of qualified practitioners, then it is as you say. And, of course, there is the obvious that even a guarantee doesn't provide anything but a course of action should the workproduct be below standard.

Maybe the gov't should just issue a 'declarative' that Astrologers/psalmists, etc are not 'backed' by any license/degree/training and if you go/pay for the service, and have compliants, DO NOT BRING THEM TO COURT. They won't be acceptable.

[Xenalyte]

"Astrology is sort of like a person's mistress," she said. "They don't want to admit they use it."

To the extent that there are only 12 types of women in the entire world from which to choose your mistress, yes, they are sort of alike.

[UCANSEE2]

Sorry to double-jump on you, but your statement I still have problems with.

My real opinion is that nobody should be licensed for any service.

How about NUCLEAR POWER PLANT INSPECTORS, or AIRFRAME MECHANICS ?

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

art of astrology, palmistry, phrenology, life-reading, fortune telling, cartomancy, clairvoyance, clairaudience, crystal-gazing, hypnotism, mediumship, prophecy, augury, divination, magic or necromancy,

They left off the ever-popular art, at least in Palm County, FL, of chad reading.