A friend of mine is a personal trainer and recently told me that West Hollywood is on the verge of making it illegal for her to train someone in a public park without a permit. Many cities in the county have already done the same. The law would impose fines for those who get paid to train people but have not purchased a permit.
So far there isn’t much information on this, but it will definitely be sprung on the public without much input as another opportunity to be fined while going about our daily lives, which is kind of the definition of a police state.
What would our grandparents think if we told them you need a permit to teach someone yoga? The parks are supposed to be for the public. The public pays for the parks. And the public enjoy all kinds of activities. I have a friend who gives music lessons in the park. But not for long. The city seems likely to assume that standard park behavior includes lying motionless in a supine position and everything you do on top of that may require a permit. Like buying extra toppings for your life.
Remember when you were allowed to live like a normal person in California? The freedom and laid back lifestyle our tourism boards advertise has been ripped to shreds. Don’t even think about bringing a 6 pack of beer to the beach. Or building a fire. Or any goddamn normal beach activity. La County doesn’t allow you to throw a football in the summer. Its not becoming ridiculous, it has become ridiculous.
This park thing is just another loss of freedom. Say my friend is training someone in the park, and some high school dropout public hall monitor comes over to her, interrupts her work out, and asks to see the permit. How would he know that she has been paid for her services?
Would this not open up the opportunity for a cop to bust me and my buddy while he shows me the proper method of doing pull ups while in the park? My buddy can’t prove I didn’t pay him, but the cop could make a case he was training me. Then there’s ticket writing and a chance to waste a week entrenching yourself into our horrendous court system.
If you think this won’t be abused, you aren’t paying attention.
I can see it now. Cops in plainclothes walking around our city parks undercover to try and nab some trainers. Spying on cash transactions from behind their cruisers. Saying things like,
Hey Jim, that guy’s biceps look a little too defined and he’s got great form on those dips. Probably a professional. Hit the lights!
I’m sick of it. That’s why I’m running for West Hollywood City Council, and I will win because I’m not the only one sick of this madness. The people in charge have lost touch, but all is not lost. Together we can reclaim our dignity.