Council
Sets “Buffer Zone” for Protests |
By Jorge Casuso
January 24 -- Protesters cannot come closer than 50 feet
from the homes of those they are targeting or carry sign poles thicker
than ¾ inches under a new law approved by the City Council
Tuesday night.
The Santa Monica ordinance establishing a “buffer zone,” similar
to that instituted by other cities, comes amidst worries that protests targeted
at homes are increasing and could become more violent.
“I think this is a major step forward,” said Mayor Pro Tem Richard
Bloom. “In my view, this ordinance is essential. It’s not going
to solve the problem, but it’s going to help a little bit.”
Bloom recalled a series of protests against a neighbor targeted by animal rights
activists who picketed his home in Sunset Park several years ago. During one
of the protests a relative of the targeted individual suffered a heart attack.
“I’ve never experienced anything more threatening in my life,”
Bloom said. “Until you’ve experienced this, you don’t really
know what it’s like to be the target.”
But Council member Kevin McKeown, who cast the only dissenting vote, called
the law an “inadequate solution” that only shifts the problem to
the doorstep of the nearest neighbor.
“We live in an extraordinarily dense city,” McKeown said. “The
impact is falling on the property next door or across the street. . . . This
is a solution that’s worse than the existing problem.”
Santa Monica’s law -- which council members say would protect both residents’
and protestors’ rights -- is less restrictive than similar laws in five
other Southern California jurisdictions.
A similar law in Los Angeles restricts the protestors to 100 feet from the
targeted residence, while a law in San Diego County sets the distance at 300
feet.
Given the nature of the protests, the law is a good idea, said Police Chief
Tim Jackman.
“The potential for violence is pretty significant,” Jackman said.
“The emotions can run high at these events.”
In addition to establishing a 50-foot-buffer zone, the new law also restricts
the length and diameter of sign poles to “one-fourth inch or less in thickness
and two inches or less in width or, if not generally rectangular in shape, such
object shall not exceed three-quarter inch in its thickest dimension.”
The courts upheld a Los Angeles ordinance regulating the width of demonstrators’
sign poles used to strike police officers, staff said.
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