Crackdown on buskers earns mixed reviews

Buskers looking to entertain Saint John residents and city tourists have been also grabbing the attention of the police.

A pair of out-of-town artists claim they were told by the Saint John Police to stop making their chalk art on the sidewalk and later in the week, authorities had to speak to some quirky street performers.

Police officers told a drummer to stop playing in the uptown area because of noise complaints and other officers also had to speak to a man in a gorilla suit, who was reportedly frightening tourists.

But, Saint John police are receiving mixed reviews over their attempt to crackdown on buskers in the city.

Leanne Cochrane, who manages Barbours General Store and Museum, said she understands how public expressions of music and art, even chalk art, so close to businesses can be a problem.

'I think we have bigger fish to fry in the city than going after drum circles and sidewalk chalk artists, and guys in gorilla suits.' — Anne McShane

"Walking down the street with my seven-and-a-half year-old son, right in front of my store there is a body of a naked woman, so bare breasted and all of that," Cochrane said.

"So I find that as a mom offensive, and as a shopkeeper — very offensive."

Other store owners say there are more pressing issues in the city than loud drumming and gorilla costumes.

Anne McShane, the owner of the Feel Good Store, said the buskers are injecting some fun into the city.

"I think it adds some life to the city. It's a grey city. We have fog, lots of cement going on, add some colour, it's a good thing," she said.

McShane said the city has been working hard to attract more youth. She said busking comes with that, and if it's innocent enough, it should be celebrated. .

She said people need to lighten up and police have more pressing matters to deal with in Saint John.

"I think we have bigger fish to fry in the city than going after drum circles and sidewalk chalk artists, and guys in gorilla suits," McShane said.