City trying (again) to crack down on degenerate Fremont Street Experience performers

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Originally Posted by Dan Druff

I don't care what anyone says.

When tourists downtown take a picture with the buskers, are hustled for a $100 tip, and then threatened with violence if they don't give it, that's a big problem.

Might not be a problem for you or me, because we don't engage in these services. But for the tourist from the midwest, this can be a big problem, and it shouldn't be happening.

As I said, run some undercover officers out there, make some arrests, throw some of the buskers in county jail for 30 days, and watch this all rapidly improve.

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If you fear or don't like what goes on downtown, DONT GO THERE.

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Originally Posted by MisterV

I wonder whether the threats of violence have ever been followed through with, leading to an assault?

How is the threat delivered...by a busker or a pimp / "manager?"

Me, I'd just laugh in their face but then I'm big enough to get away with it: spoiler...i really am an uncaring lout.

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Doesn't matter.

It's a horrible look for the city, and tourists shouldn't have to go through this because low lives are trying to scam them.

The average tourist feels like $10-$20 is probably what they'd be expected to tip for a picture with two downtown "showgirls". When these girls demand $60-$100, and threaten to either beat up the tourist or bring their boyfriends out to do it (if the tourist is male), it pretty much rises to the level of small time extortion. You're tricked into buying a cheap-looking "service", and then threatened with violence if you don't pay the price they want.

Just about nobody would assume that 2 showgirls taking 30 seconds for a picture would demand a $100 tip. That's why it's so slimy. They're counting on people thinking they can tip what they believe is fair, and then threaten into paying something exorbitant.

For this reason, I have no sympathy for these buskers, and I feel a complete cleanup needs to be undertaken there. Make tip hustling illegal, announce that undercover officers will be examining the situation, and then start making actual arrests for those violating it.

You don't let the inmates run the asylum.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Dan Druff

Quote:

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Originally Posted by MisterV

I wonder whether the threats of violence have ever been followed through with, leading to an assault?

How is the threat delivered...by a busker or a pimp / "manager?"

Me, I'd just laugh in their face but then I'm big enough to get away with it: spoiler...i really am an uncaring lout.

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You don't let the inmates run the asylum.

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Except here? Hahaha

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Dan Druff

For this reason, I have no sympathy for these buskers, and I feel a complete cleanup needs to be undertaken there. Make tip hustling illegal

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Threatening or extorting people is already illegal. I'm sure these incidents are more the exception than the rule. If it was an all the time occurrence, offenders would be identified pretty quick. But I agree that it is totally unacceptable and needs to be rectified ASAP.