LA City Council moves forward with plans to make characters on Hollywood Boulevard obtain permits

LOS ANGELES - The Los Angeles City Council today directed city attoeys to draw up regulations that would limit the number of costumed street performers allowed along a touristy block of Hollywood Boulevard.

Police and city officials say they are conceed about overly aggressive sales tactics and activities that takes up too much space along a lively stretch of the street between Highland Boulevard and Orange Drive. The block, which attracts millions of tourists and visitors a year, includes the Walk of Fame, TCL Chinese Theatres and Madame Tussauds Hollywood wax museum.

The council asked the City Attoey’s Office to write rules that would require that street performers obtain one of a limited number of permits that would be given out each day, with Los Angeles Police Department officials recommending that number be set at 20. The passes would apply to the sidewalks on either side of Hollywood Boulevard, between Highland Avenue and Orange Drive.

Police officials say that one-fifth of visitors to the area reported “unsatisfactory” experiences with performers and other vendors along the street, with many pointing to “aggressive and rude” behavior.

Recent altercations between street performers along Hollywood Boulevard have also raised conces about public safety for the area. Last year, performers dressed as “Mickey Mouse” and “Donald Duck” engaged in a fistfight outside the Dolby Theatre, and in another incident, a performer in a “Mr Incredible” costume was caught on a cellphone video punching a “Batgirl” performer near TCL Chinese Theatres.