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Practitioner says Ashland fortune-telling ordinance discriminates, urges equal treatment for religious services
Summary
A local spiritual-practice provider told the commission that Ashland City Code 130.02 (the city's fortune-telling ordinance) discriminates against her religious practice and limits her ability to work at public events; she urged the city to remove or change restrictions that single out spiritual services.
Rachel Crawford of Bellefonte Princess Road addressed the Board of City Commissioners on Oct. 9 regarding Ashland City Code 130.02, the city's fortune-telling ordinance. She told the commission she is not a psychic and described her services as spiritual guidance that provides "clarity, insight, and guidance" using tools such as tarot readings.
Crawford said the ordinance prevents her from offering services at vendor events, pop-up events and public events within Ashland city limits and that enforcement of the ordinance amounts to religious discrimination. "You cannot single out, restrict, and regulate my beliefs simply because you may not like them," she said, and argued the First Amendment protects her right to offer spiritual services.
She also disputed claims made about spiritual practices and mental-health harms, saying that linking spiritual guidance to cognitive distortion, depression or exploitation of children is incorrect and stigmatizing. Crawford told the commission she does not offer services to children and that she takes ethical precautions when choosing clients.
The comment was submitted during the public-participation portion of the meeting; the transcript does not record any subsequent motion or agenda item to change the ordinance.
Ending: The commission received the public comment; no action to amend or repeal Ashland City Code 130.02 is recorded in the meeting minutes.
