Small Stretch of Michigan Now Slightly Less Noisy

By Amy Hart in Arts & Entertainment on Feb 9, 2006 3:14PM

As some of you may know, a lot has been said on Chicagoist regarding the issue of street performers. A lot.

Yesterday the Chicago City Council passed an ordinance banning street performers along part of Michigan Avenue, as well as near Millennium Park when concerts are in progress. Those are the only areas affected by the ordinance, so other downtown areas, such as the streets surrounding Marina City, are still fair game.

Congratulations to the citizens residing on the Magnificent Mile between Superior and Delaware. Chicagoist isn’t really a big fan of the ban, but it does perfectly demonstrate what a vocal minority of privileged voters can accomplish when they put their minds to it.

The ban passed the City Council 42-4, but we’re guessing at least some of the members were all "whatever" about the ordinance and voted for it in an attempt to appease Aldmerman Burton Natarus in his six year battle to silence the performers. Look, we have no beef with those seeking peace and quiet, and if you want to make the performers turn down the volume a bit and end their acts a little earlier, then fine. Obviously this quality of life issue means a lot for some of you to keep pushing it so hard for so long.

But won’t the ban just force the performers further south along Michigan and make it noisier there? And then when those residents pipe up will there have to be a ban for another few blocks? Where does it end? Even Natarus said that trying to ban performers along all of Michigan Avenue could be viewed as unconstitutional, which is why the ordinance was positioned as an issue of safety. So what issue are we really trying to address here—noise or safety? Was anybody complaining about the crowded sidewalks around the performers being unsafe? Or is safety just a convenient catchall?

We’re sure some of you will disagree with our take on this issue, and we welcome all civilized debate. We just hope the aldermen will remember this vote when less influential areas of the city need real help for serious problems.