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From Santa Monica Close Up:
" On Thursday, August 8, 2024, Santa Monica Police officers issued a citation to street performer Lionel Jean-Baptiste, known on Instagram as @icecreamsongs1, for violating Santa Monica Municipal Ordinance (SMMO) 4.08.750, which prohibits solicitation in certain locations. The incident occurred at Ocean Front Walk, in front of Shutters on the Beach hotel, where Lionel has been performing regularly for over a year.
Lionel was asked to pack up his equipment and stop performing. He was cooperative and complied with the officers' requests, who stood by to ensure his compliance. During this time, a nearby resident expressed frustration with the police action, criticizing the allocation of resources to the incident when more pressing crimes were happening elsewhere. The resident spoke with Lionel, offering her support, and then confronted the officers, questioning their priorities.
Lionel, a former elementary school teacher with over a decade of experience in Los Angeles' inner-city schools, calmly acknowledged the citation. He explained that he would make adjustments to comply with the ordinance and mentioned plans to reach out to the Santa Monica Police Department’s lieutenant for further discussion and clarification. Despite this setback, Lionel intends to continue performing at the same location, adapting his approach to stay within the bounds of the law. "I was told if I continue to play today, there was a possibility I'd be arrested," Lionel said, emphasizing his decision to temporarily stop playing to avoid further conflict.
Before becoming a street performer, Lionel dedicated 10 years of his life to educating young children, creating educational music designed to engage and inspire students. His website, IceCreamSongs.com, features a collection of songs aimed at teaching children basic skills through music, including tracks like "The Itsy Bitsy Spider" and "Wheels on the Bus" for younger kids, as well as educational rap songs focused on subjects like multiplication for older students. This commitment to education and community service has won Lionel a dedicated following, both online and in the local community.
The incident on Ocean Front Walk has brought to light the ongoing tensions between street performers, local businesses, and law enforcement in Santa Monica. The resident’s vocal support for Lionel, coupled with his respectful response to the situation, underscores a broader concern about resource allocation and community priorities in the city. Lionel's background as an educator and his transition to street performance add a layer of complexity to this narrative, highlighting the challenges and resilience of those who seek to share their talents in public spaces."
Santa Monica Close Up is a photo blog by Santa Monica based Photojournalist/Press photographer Fabian Lewkowicz. Fabian is the former staff photographer for the Santa Monica Daily Observer Press, Santa Monica Mirror, Santa Monica and the Santa Monica Corsair.
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