Council Loosens Curbs on Beach Solicitations

The City Council on Tuesday unanimously passed a measure loosening restrictions on soliciting on public beaches. Effective immediately, all nonprofit organizations and individuals selling wares for religious, philosophical, political or ideological reasons have a right to solicit donations on public property.

More than a dozen entertainers, healers, clowns and artists from the Venice Boardwalk showed up at City Hall to support the bill, even though it remains unclear just how they will be affected. The measure sidesteps a controversy on the Venice Boardwalk--what to do with the dozens of entertainers on the walk’s west side. City officials have said that artists and performers will be allowed to continue if they merely accept donations.

Rent-paying merchants on the east side of the walk complain that illegal vendors front as artists or entertainers and steal business.