The San Diego County Board of Supervisors is working on a law to regulate demonstrations in Waterfront Park by creating “free speech zones” and requiring permits. On July 21 they will consider changes to the proposed law. A county official said permits were only required to use tables, chairs, a stage or sound amplification equipment. (The San Diego Union-Tribune, June 9, 2015, by Joshua Stewart)
A San Diego newspaper called the proposed legislation “rigid, excessive and poorly conceived.” It argued that the law would kill any spontaneous protests and trample the First Amendment. (The San Diego Union-Tribune, June 9, 2015, by the editorial board)
Community reaction was mostly negative according to Miriam Raftery, June 8, 2015, East County Magazine. A prominent local libertarian said, “The nature of the beast is for government to grow and liberty to decline. Leave it up to a petty tyrant to muzzle dissent. While we’re at it let’s end their million dollar slush funds which they use to get themselves elected at the expense of the poor.”