Posted on 05/20/2024 3:46:12 PM PDT by nickcarraway
A revision to the municipal code made it illegal for groups of four or more people to convene in public spaces for commercial recreational activities without a government stamp of approval.
They come in packs. They're often crunchy. They're chameleons: a downward-facing dog one moment, a cobra or child the next. (What versatility!) They do handstands and breathe peacefully. And we can't have any of that.
At least, not on public land. By "they," I'm referring to the world of yogis. And by "we," I mean the city of San Diego, which revised its municipal code in March to prevent groups of four or more people engaged in commercial recreational activities—yoga, fitness classes, dog training, etc.—from convening in public spaces without a permit.
Law enforcement officers are zeroing in on rogue gatherings, breaking up beachside classes before they begin and issuing tickets to the teachers. And despite the city's emphasis on "commercial" activities, park rangers are also busting those groups who meet with no cost of admission. "It's really tragic that the city would take away the opportunity to come to a class for free, to be outside in a public park, and to enjoy nature," Amy Baack, a yoga instructor, told San Diego's KGTV station. And despite what might be the gut reaction here—"Just get a permit!"—it appears the city isn't making that easy: "We are perfectly willing and ready to get a permit," Baack added, "if the city would allow it."
The law was originally tailored to target permitless food vendors. Reasonable people can and should debate the necessity or utility of preventing people from buying hot dogs from someone without a stamp of approval from government bureaucrats. But it would seem even more questionable to apply that concept to people who voluntarily meet by the water to do some stretching. Conjuring safety concerns there requires an active imagination.
Indeed, San Diego says the core issue at stake is safety. Officials expanded the code, which went into effect March 29, "to ensure these public spaces remain safe and accessible," a city spokesperson said in a statement. What danger these groups pose while transitioning from, say, bridge pose to wheel pose remains unclear.
The idea that the code provision ensures accessibility, meanwhile, is richly ironic, as it explicitly excludes from access those taxpaying San Diegans who have the audacity to work out with other people sans a permit. That they have gathered together as opposed to separately, or to do a specific activity as opposed to something nebulous, should not suddenly necessitate approval from the government.
Whether or not the rule will survive is up in the air: An attorney for a group of yoga instructors on Friday served a cease-and-desist letter to city officials. Whatever the case, it's an example of the government implementing a solution in search of a problem, which didn't actually exist until city leaders created it.
Just put one large tent up for the exercisers. Place a few more, smaller tents on the sides. Get some grocery store shopping carts, fill them full of empty soda cans and other crap. Anyone objecting to this will have to deal with the Homeless Industrial Complex.
C’mon, Man!
Is this part of China’s war on Falun Gong which uses public parks for meeting all over the country?
I think they are afraid of people being healthy.
“Sounds like a clear violation of the First Amendment:”
COMMERCIAL groups. I guess you didn’t read the article.
“Public land is already paid for by the tax payer.”
For the public. Not for businesses to set up shop.
“No different than praying in public. Can’t have that either.”
LOL! One is a private interaction, the other is a business too cheap to have their own setting taking access away from the public.
How dare you violate guidelines by reading the article and interjecting common sense into this thread!
They aren't limiting it to COMMERCIAL groups.
And despite the city's emphasis on "commercial" activities, park rangers are also busting those groups who meet with no cost of admission.
I guess you didn't read the article.
LOL!
So says a biased COMMERCIAL yoga instructor!
You have once again shown to believe anyone with a mouthpiece.
Karl Marx won.
You are such a hate-filled sack of Obama.
Pathetic.
Let’s say a Boy Scout Patrol gathers at the beach for a (free) swimming instruction.
Will they get credit for their “Time Served” Merit Badge by trying this activity?
It’s groups of people putting on “free” classes...
Then requesting ‘donations’ for their time directing the ‘free’ classes
Basically they are trying to skirt around laws to make a profit.
Meet Amy Baak
I was on the path to my supposed “dream career,” but I was totally miserable. I had nightly panic attacks, endless health problems, and basically treated my body and my spirit like %%%%. At its worst, I was in my bathroom with my hoard of prescription pills contemplating suicide.
You’ve proved that you hate people.
Anything else?
Whew…..I was worried there for a minute that Antifa and BLM could get caught up in this.
Four or more? So you can’t even get a doubles match in pickleball... Unless you post a sign “Pickleballers against Jews” and then you might even get a cheer from the city government.
“And despite the city’s emphasis on “commercial” activities, park rangers are also busting those groups who meet with no cost of admission.”
It was her group that got busted!
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