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Union Square kicks out young carolers Grade-school kids get boot for lack of permit from city
San Francisco Chronicle ^ | 12/5/4 | Phillip Matier, Andrew Ross

Posted on 12/05/2004 10:01:45 AM PST by SmithL

Two dozen San Francisco schoolkids sporting white turtlenecks and Santa hats got a very un-Christmaslike civics lesson the other day when they showed up at Union Square hoping to delight Christmas shoppers with holiday carols.

"They just wanted to set up next to the Christmas tree and sing,'' said Donna Vargas, one of the parents who escorted the fifth- and sixth-graders from San Francisco Day School on Friday's outing.

Instead, they got the boot.

Seems they didn't have a city permit -- so after a brief run-in with the park's security, the kids were shooed away.

"How can children not be allowed to sing in a public park?'' Vargas fumed. "I can see if they were street performers or passing a hat. But they are not raising money or soliciting anybody.''

Maybe not, said Mary McCue, president of MJM Management Group, which oversees the square's security. But under city rules, any organized activity at Union Square requires a permit from the city's Rec and Park Department.

"We try to look the other way a lot, but this was just a big group,'' McCue said. "And there is a whole liability issue. If a kid falls on the step, they're going to automatically sue Rec and Park and me.''

Parents and bystanders were soon on the line to the mayor's office to complain.

(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Culture/Society; Front Page News; Government; News/Current Events; US: California
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To: netmilsmom

"Then bring a paper that the rep of the group signs for no liability and let them sing."

During the permitting process, a liability policy is required. A statement of no liability is almost useless in court.


21 posted on 12/05/2004 10:21:41 AM PST by Bob J (RIGHTALK.com...a conservative alternative to NPR!)
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To: auggy
Yup. The indigenous faggotry gets a lifetime free pass to indulge themselves in whatever lewd and lascivious conduct they feel burning in their loins at just about any given moment, but a thousand totalitarian regulations will be thrown at school kids if they dare to publically express themselves on a Christian holiday.

That entire region of the planet needs to slide into the sea with a resounding splash. I feel no pity for these mentally diseased animals.


22 posted on 12/05/2004 10:24:33 AM PST by Viking2002 (Taglines? Vikings don't need no steenkin' taglines..............)
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To: SmithL

Are we in America? This makes me so angry. Wonder what is going thru the children's minds.


23 posted on 12/05/2004 10:25:50 AM PST by Lijahsbubbe
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To: SmithL

Everyones getting worked up over nothing. Most cities have policies that allow people to organize and conduct activities on government property if the group is small, say under 25 individuals. Over that, you have to get a permit, show liability insurance, add the city as an additional insured, etc.

The fact this happened to a bunch of young carolers is sad, but the adult organizers should not be laying the blame off on others when it was their fault for not checking with the city prior to the event.


24 posted on 12/05/2004 10:29:17 AM PST by Bob J (RIGHTALK.com...a conservative alternative to NPR!)
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To: xm177e2

"Ya think maybe that might be part of the permit process?"

Yeah, I do think that. I'm surprised a school would plan such an impromtu outing. I used to have to sign a permission slip in order for my kid to participate in her elementary school's Halloween parade. This parade consisted of walking around the block the school was on!

Most schools are obsessed with permission slips, I guess they don't realize other entities have similar concerns.


25 posted on 12/05/2004 10:30:35 AM PST by jocon307 (Jihad is world wide. Jihad is serious business. We ignore global jihad at our peril.)
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To: little jeremiah

Everything you said is true, and yet people still come to the Cesspool by the Bay for family vacations.

That never ceases to amaze me.


26 posted on 12/05/2004 10:36:13 AM PST by skip_intro
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To: xm177e2; Bob J

>>Ya think maybe that might be part of the permit process?<<

Ya think someone could be a little less scroogie and let the kids sing?

Too much Government can kill the spirit of the season.


27 posted on 12/05/2004 10:42:52 AM PST by netmilsmom (Zell on DEM Christianity, "They can hum the tune, but can't sing the song.")
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To: SmithL

On the other hand, PETA and anti-war goons get a free pass courtesy of the gay marriage counselor/mayor of SF.


28 posted on 12/05/2004 10:45:10 AM PST by citizencon
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To: SmithL
"How can children not be allowed to sing in a public park?'' Vargas fumed."

That's just the way socialism works. Your "freedoms" are defined by the state, I mean community. If what you want to do isn't on the list of approved freedoms, too bad.

29 posted on 12/05/2004 10:48:21 AM PST by Sam Cree (Democrats are herd animals)
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To: little jeremiah

present company excluded, I hope... :-)


30 posted on 12/05/2004 10:48:47 AM PST by Citizen James (Notorious G.O.P.)
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To: SmithL
Apparently, Mary McCue and MJM Management Group are San Francisco's BIG BROTHER. Even photography must have a permit! What nonsense:

http://www.photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=001pHT


Joe Hearst Photo.net Patron, dec 18, 2001; 07:34 p.m.
Mr. Hearst:

I am writing to you on behalf of the Mayor as the Liaison to District 6 in his Office of Neighborhood Services. I am sorry to hear of your inconvenience the night of December 16th. Yerba Buena Gardens, although public property, is privately managed by KTB Realty and Mr. Leon is employed by this management company. Much like any public park or public space in the City, all professional photo shoots must secure a permit or permission before commencing; this includes photography classes. KTB Realty welcomes any group to come take photos at Yerba Buena Gardens, but they do require notice ahead of time, this allows the management company to see that the needs of other visitors to the gardens are not overlooked while the photo group is using the grounds.

According to Mary McCue of KTB Realty, special arrangements can be made for photography classes. If you would like more information, you can contact her at 247-6500.

If you have any other questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me.

Sincerely,

Lauren Do Liaison to District 6 Mayor's Office of Neighborhood Services 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Drive, room 160 San Francisco, CA 94102 phone: 415-554-6182 fax: 415-554-6474 email: lauren.do@sfgov.org

31 posted on 12/05/2004 10:52:57 AM PST by Enlightiator
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To: Bob J
And you know what they would likely have gotten?

PERMIT DENIED.

32 posted on 12/05/2004 10:58:07 AM PST by onedoug
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To: SmithL
What other city has that policy?

Sounds like one of the city's $120K/year bureaucrats trying to justify her job.

San Francisco: More people on the public payroll per capita than any other city in the country..

33 posted on 12/05/2004 11:08:13 AM PST by muleskinner
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To: muleskinner
The RAT mayor is taking a lot of heat right now for making $97 million in cuts in services. because of the deficit. Funny, the democratic party is actually the conservative party here... that says a lot...
34 posted on 12/05/2004 11:29:49 AM PST by Citizen James (Notorious G.O.P.)
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To: SmithL

As if we needed any further reminder of why SanFagcisco is one of Satan's open playgrounds.....


35 posted on 12/05/2004 11:46:36 AM PST by TheBattman (Islam (and liberals)- the cult of Satan)
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To: netmilsmom

If it were ANSWER singing praises of the Soviet gulag, would you feel differently? They got to treat all the same. Now, if there were evidence of the city allowing this kind of thing in the same park with lefty groups, that would be a different case.


36 posted on 12/05/2004 12:00:00 PM PST by Bob J (RIGHTALK.com...a conservative alternative to NPR!)
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To: onedoug

And what evidence do you base that on? Have he denied permits to carollers in the past?


37 posted on 12/05/2004 12:00:54 PM PST by Bob J (RIGHTALK.com...a conservative alternative to NPR!)
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To: SmithL; All

This story should be title...."Union Square Grinches Give Grade-School Carolers The Boot."


38 posted on 12/05/2004 12:01:38 PM PST by Lindykim (")
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To: SmithL
"Parents and bystanders were soon on the line to the mayor's office to complain."

Uhhh ... don't forget that this is the same mayor that began issuing gay marriage licenses in complete violation of state law.

I think the Christian parents -- however rare they might be in San Francisco -- will not get much sympathy from Mayor Newsome.

39 posted on 12/05/2004 12:16:37 PM PST by tom h
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To: SmithL
" ... John Burton's final press conference."

Burton is one of biggest major-league a--holes that ever walked the corridors of Sacramento. I hope he's out of office forever and spends the rest of his life in penance watching Fox News without an ability to change the channel or go to sleep.

40 posted on 12/05/2004 12:19:51 PM PST by tom h
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