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San Diego Is Cracking Down on Groups Exercising Outside Without a Permit
Reason ^ | 5.20.2024 | Billy Binion

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.


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; News/Current Events; US: California
KEYWORDS: california; lockdown; lockdowns; sandiego
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Maybe they should just continue the lockdown?
1 posted on 05/20/2024 3:46:12 PM PDT by nickcarraway
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To: nickcarraway

As long as you still don’t need a permit to drop a deuce in public, I see no harm.


2 posted on 05/20/2024 3:49:07 PM PDT by JZelle
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To: nickcarraway
Sounds like a clear violation of the First Amendment:

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

3 posted on 05/20/2024 3:51:58 PM PDT by E. Pluribus Unum (The worst thing about censorship is █████ ██ ████ ████ ████ █ ███████ ████. FJB.)
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To: nickcarraway

This was the problem with the lockdowns. They got away with it so now it’s open season on everyone.

This is truly bizarre - does the city thinks it can squeeze more $ from yoga teachers?


4 posted on 05/20/2024 3:53:23 PM PDT by KingofZion
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To: nickcarraway
IMG-0973 Maybe they should just continue the lockdown?

I think the lockdown euphoria of, “obey mah authoritah” is returning.

5 posted on 05/20/2024 3:55:56 PM PDT by broken_clock (Go Trump! Still praying.)
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To: nickcarraway
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.

Aren't there any real criminals for them to deal with?

You know, like drug dealers, human sex traffickers, thieves, etc?

With all the problems CA THAT is what they are focused on? People doing something without government permission.

6 posted on 05/20/2024 3:56:10 PM PDT by metmom (He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus…)
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

Public land is already paid for by the tax payer.


7 posted on 05/20/2024 3:56:50 PM PDT by metmom (He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus…)
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To: nickcarraway

“to insure these public spaces remain safe “

fkn bureaucrat tyrants should be hanged for the safety of the Republic;
but then again it’s totalitarian Marxist/fascist California

-fJRoberts-


8 posted on 05/20/2024 3:57:20 PM PDT by A strike (There is no tyranny that cannot be justified by 'climate change')
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To: nickcarraway

Hitler won.


9 posted on 05/20/2024 4:02:00 PM PDT by Sirius Lee (They intend to kill us. Plan to avoid this.)
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To: nickcarraway

Zen’s fascists will control you
Hundred percent natural
You will jog for the master race
And always wear the happy face


10 posted on 05/20/2024 4:03:26 PM PDT by dfwgator (Endut! Hoch Hech!)
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To: metmom

Probably inspired by China’s crackdown on Falon Gong.


11 posted on 05/20/2024 4:06:42 PM PDT by Greg123456
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To: nickcarraway

No different than praying in public. Can’t have that either.


12 posted on 05/20/2024 4:09:38 PM PDT by George from New England (escaped CT back in 2006)
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To: nickcarraway
"to ensure these public spaces remain safe and accessible," for the homeless, mentally ill, drug addicts, illegal aliens and criminals.
13 posted on 05/20/2024 4:12:13 PM PDT by Eagles6 (Welcome to the Matrix . Orwell's "1984" was a warning, not an instruction manual. )
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To: nickcarraway

Honestly, I think IQs shrink by half when these city monitors
are sworn in.


14 posted on 05/20/2024 4:12:26 PM PDT by DoughtyOne (I pledge allegiance to the flag of the USofA & to the Constitutional REPUBLIC for which it stands. )
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To: nickcarraway
The law was originally tailored to target permitless food vendors.

Who continue to operate all over San Diego with little interference from law enforcement whatsoever.

15 posted on 05/20/2024 4:14:48 PM PDT by Drew68
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To: nickcarraway

I object to the rules to begin with, but at a minimum the rule should require flexible enforcement determined by how crowded or not crowded is the relevant area of the beach, not a mimumum requirment regarless of conditions.


16 posted on 05/20/2024 4:14:52 PM PDT by Wuli
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To: DoughtyOne

I’m convinced that some places make failing an IQ test a prerequisite for holding public office.


17 posted on 05/20/2024 4:15:31 PM PDT by metmom (He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus…)
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To: nickcarraway

I don’t like it when commercial activities (like a paid yoga class) take over an entire area of a public park (we still have actual, usable public parks here with no homeless or druggies).


18 posted on 05/20/2024 4:20:26 PM PDT by steve86 (Numquam accusatus, numquam ad curiam ibit, numquam ad carcerem™)
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To: nickcarraway
In reality, they're probably MORE concerned that these people might be WORSHIPING IN PUBLIC! The Horror!


19 posted on 05/20/2024 4:26:53 PM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin (I don't have, 'Hobbies.' I'm developing a robust Post-Apocalyptic skill set. )
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To: nickcarraway

San diego city/county are full of democrats a great city is now crap.


20 posted on 05/20/2024 4:36:05 PM PDT by markman46 (engage brain before using keyboard!!!)
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