A citation for littering in San Diego is attracting national attention. Two Parks and Recreation rangers say a street performer’s bubbles are littered trash.
Sandy Snakenberg, a California Navy veteran who goes by “The Bubble Pirate,” has been creating giant bubbles for kids in the area for years. In a video recorded by the entertainer in August, two park rangers approached him and accused him of littering.
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The rangers told him the droplets from his bubbles were a violation of the city’s municipal code on littering. After telling the rangers his bubbles are mostly water and dish soap, Snakenberg continued his show for the children. The rangers then returned a short time later and issued a citation for “littering prohibited fluid.”
Snakenberg believes the real issue is a broader crackdown on street performers and vendors in high-traffic tourist areas. After California passed the Safe Sidewalk Vending Act in 2018, city officials have been trying to strike a balance between allowing street vendors to operate and keeping public spaces clear.
The act decriminalized street vending, but left room for local regulations on health and safety. Snakenberg will not face any jail time, but he plans to fight the ticket on a court date set for Oct. 16. He does not plan to stop his performances anytime soon.