Is this the city we live in?

I was at the Farmers Market here in Kent today. I purchased some fruit, ate my lunch, and brought out my henna and made a sign.

Henna is paste made from natural oils and extracts and it is used like a cake-maker uses icing to draw designs on the skin. As it dries it dyes the skin brown leaving a beautiful temporary tattoo for about a week.

My sign said:

HENNA

temporary tattoo

FREE

donations appreciated

I sat on a curb where there was no booth and where I would not be detracting from the business of the artisans and farmers around me.

I did a panda on the hand of one little girl, a flower for an older lady. Then a woman came up to me and asked if I had “spoken to her husband about renting a booth.”

“No,” I replied. “I am not selling; I am just doing my art. It is free.”

“Well, you can’t do that here.” I was told.

“I am not doing anything wrong or illegal or competing with anyone here,” I responded.

“We have a permit. We own this street and the park,” she retorted.

Rather than continue a pointless altercation that would drive people away from the independent small businesses at the market, I packed up and came into the library.

And I wondered:

Is this the city we live in? One where freely given Art is not only unappreciated, but chased away?

Is this the city we live in?

One where securing a permit grants ownership of public streets and parks?

The reason that stores offer free merchandise and coupons and deals is so people will come to that store instead of another store with the same merchandise. Why would you chase away someone who is offering a free deal that will draw people to this business?

I appreciate fully that there are dedicated individuals who work hard to organize and promote the Farmer’s Market. Their work is difficult and often thankless.

I do not appreciated being evicted from a public property without any valid reason or cause.

I call on members of City Council and the mayor to review the permit granted to the Farmer’s Market!

Does this permit give the power to evict individuals? Does it truly make public property private property for the duration? Is that supported by the federal, state and city constitution?

I call on the individuals, the citizens of Kent, to question the permit!

Do you want your public places to become private based on a rubber-stamp permit? Do you want artists to be able to work freely and openly in Kent? Do you want to bring community minded people to Kent or drive them away?

I am just one individual who feels an injustice has been done.

I leave it to the people and the city of Kent to decide.

Amara Kopakova

Kent