NEW YORK—Street performers gathered in Washington Square Park at noon on Sunday to protest an increased number of summonses being issued to performers by the Parks Department. Washington Square Park is known for an active street performer scene. During peak hours, musicians, dancers, and other artists perform in different areas of the park.
The summonses charge that the musicians are unlawfully vending on park property. Some of the summonses state that performers are in violation of a law that states that they cannot perform within 50 feet of a monument.
“The city defines vending as providing or offering to provide services or items in exchange for a donation,” said Ron Kuby, an attorney representing the musicians. “They are not providing or offering to provide services in exchange for a donation. They are playing music and dancing and performing.”
Colin Huggins rolls a piano to Washington Square Park to perform there two to three times a week. Playing at Washington Square Park has been his sole source of income since 2010. As Huggins performed east of the fountain in the center of the park, a small crowd gathered to listen to him play. People dropped dollar bills and change into two black plastic buckets and no requests for donations were made.
Huggins has received nine summonses since October of this year totaling $12,250 and was arrested once. Huggins will be in court for the summonses in approximately two weeks. On prior occasions all of the tickets he was issued were dismissed.
“We’re out here creating what we create. If people give us money it’s up to them. We’re not selling anything,” said Huggins.
The Parks Department did not respond to inquiries as of press deadline.
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