Brickbat: Bubble Ban

Sandy Snakenberg, a street performer known for his bubble-blowing act, was performing in a San Diego park when he was approached by two park rangers. They accused him of 'littering in bubble form,' despite his explanation that the bubbles were made of water and soap and disintegrated upon hitting the ground. After the rangers initially left, they returned half an hour later to issue a citation for littering, indicating that Snakenberg's performance was not welcome in the park. The situation escalated when one ranger warned Snakenberg that if he continued to perform, he would face further citations and that the case could be recommended for prosecution as a misdemeanor. This threat seemed to weigh heavily on the ranger, who expressed reluctance about taking the matter to court, indicating a sense of absurdity regarding the situation. Snakenberg, who has been performing for a decade, found the rangers' actions perplexing and unjust, as he believed his act posed no real environmental threat. The incident raises questions about the interpretation of littering laws and the role of park rangers in regulating public performances. Ultimately, this confrontation highlights the tension between artistic expression and regulatory enforcement in public spaces, as well as the challenges performers face in navigating local laws that may not account for the nature of their acts.