Duty Honor Country
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The article does not say whether it was the state or US constitution that decided this ideal on strip clubs. Still, I do not know of any constitution that says businesses have the "right" to a strip club.
SEATTLE (Reuters) - Seattle, known as one of the more tolerant and liberal U.S. cities, will require strip club patrons to stay at least four feet away from entertainers, city officials said on Tuesday.
Fearing a spate of new strip clubs after a judge struck down a 17-year moratorium on new ones last month, the City Council voted 5-4 on Monday to adopt new adult-entertainment regulations, which also mandate brighter lighting on club premises and ban private rooms.
Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels was expected to sign the bill into law later on Tuesday, his office said.
Efforts to adopt measures discouraging strip clubs from operating began after a federal judge ruled three weeks ago that the city's refusal to process strip club applications since 1988 was unconstitutional.
While other larger U.S. cities have dozens of the clubs, according to directory listings, Seattle has only four.
Seattle citizens overwhelmingly approved a measure last year to make marijuana offenses a "low priority" for police, but they are uncomfortable with the possibility of strip clubs operating in family-filled neighborhoods, said Pepper Schwartz, a sociology professor at the University of Washington.
"This is ground zero for general liberalism," said Schwartz , "but people's sensitivities even in liberal communities get aroused when they hear a strip club may be opening up in their backyard."
Seattle adopted a moratorium on new strip club openings in 1988 while officials looked into their social impact on neighborhoods. The moratorium was then extended indefinitely, effectively banning new clubs.
Some council members objected to the restrictions. "This is too much interference in business affairs," said Jean Godden, who voted against the new rules. "I'm fairly liberal-minded and I think the city should protect neighborhoods, but it shouldn't restrain a legitimate business."
The ordinance will take effect in six months, or when the mayor proposes new zoning regulations, whichever comes later.
Yahoo News
SEATTLE (Reuters) - Seattle, known as one of the more tolerant and liberal U.S. cities, will require strip club patrons to stay at least four feet away from entertainers, city officials said on Tuesday.
Fearing a spate of new strip clubs after a judge struck down a 17-year moratorium on new ones last month, the City Council voted 5-4 on Monday to adopt new adult-entertainment regulations, which also mandate brighter lighting on club premises and ban private rooms.
Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels was expected to sign the bill into law later on Tuesday, his office said.
Efforts to adopt measures discouraging strip clubs from operating began after a federal judge ruled three weeks ago that the city's refusal to process strip club applications since 1988 was unconstitutional.
While other larger U.S. cities have dozens of the clubs, according to directory listings, Seattle has only four.
Seattle citizens overwhelmingly approved a measure last year to make marijuana offenses a "low priority" for police, but they are uncomfortable with the possibility of strip clubs operating in family-filled neighborhoods, said Pepper Schwartz, a sociology professor at the University of Washington.
"This is ground zero for general liberalism," said Schwartz , "but people's sensitivities even in liberal communities get aroused when they hear a strip club may be opening up in their backyard."
Seattle adopted a moratorium on new strip club openings in 1988 while officials looked into their social impact on neighborhoods. The moratorium was then extended indefinitely, effectively banning new clubs.
Some council members objected to the restrictions. "This is too much interference in business affairs," said Jean Godden, who voted against the new rules. "I'm fairly liberal-minded and I think the city should protect neighborhoods, but it shouldn't restrain a legitimate business."
The ordinance will take effect in six months, or when the mayor proposes new zoning regulations, whichever comes later.
Yahoo News
