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Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Board of Supervisors Outlaw Lap Dances
by Steve V, published on March 26, 2009 at 8:28PM
Storyline: Liberty in Sacramento
This past Tuesday, March 24th, the Sacramento Board of Supervisors adopted ordinance SCC-1419 "Ordinance Related to Physical Contact Dance", proposed by the Sheriff. The Supervisors, Don Nottoli, Susan Peters, Roger Dickinson, Jimmie Yee (Roberta MacGlashan was absent), voted "yes" unanimously.
The new rules:
No patron shall be permitted within six feet of the stage while the stage is occupied by entertainer(s). No entertainer shall perform within six feet of a patron or customer. No entertainer shall have physical contact with any patron or customer and no patron or customer shall have physical contact with any entertainer. If patrons wish to tip entertainers, tips shall be placed in receptacles which shall be located at least six feet from the entertainer and performing areas. Every person who violates any provision of this chapter, including customers and patrons, entertainers, and operators of the establishments, is guilty of a misdemeanor.
Of the documents attached to the ordinance, what stood out to me immediately is that much of the text submitted by the sheriff describes dancers "disrobing" or observing "pornographic activities", while there is no evidence submitted that lap dances cause criminal activity of any kind. In fact, the only support of the sheriff's claims are documents from some town, La Habra, where their prudish City Council proclaimed that lap dances led to AIDS, violence, and other "deleterious effects"... though no facts where stated there either. Of these eight documents, there is only one letter from a local resident in opposition. I sent a letter to the supervisors myself defending free-enterprise and individual liberty, but where is this in the documents and why is there selective inclusion of opinions on the matter? From what I've read on this, it appears that the Sheriff is acting on behalf of religious elements in proximity to two dancing establishments on Auburn Blvd. The fact is, most of these girls are probably single moms trying to make a buck and perhaps a few of them will resort to prostitution because of this ordinance. Personally, I am settled down and my days of visiting a strip club were over after my bachelor party. However, what I find objectionable is not two consenting adults exchanging $20 for boobs-in-face... but rather a few elected officials feeling they have the right to regulate personal, consensual, and non-criminal transaction between free people simply because they find it distasteful. Obviously, based on the responses on this petition, I am not the only person who feels this way.
I sincerely hope that Sacramentans who value their personal liberty will vote these supervisors out of their seats come next election. I also hope that these establishments fight for their constitutional rights in court.
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Whats almost really funny is how a bunch of corrupt politicians who do favors for their friends and look the other way as CPS hires criminals, think that lap dances are somehow objectionable or offensive.
"The fact is, most of these girls are probably single moms trying to make a buck and perhaps a few of them will resort to prostitution because of this ordinance"
You can't criticize the City Council for not relying on facts, and then go ahead and jump into assumptionville in the very next sentence!
"Proably single moms" "perhaps ... will resort to prostitution" Where are your facts on this other than anecdotal?
For the record - Rancho Cordova has Sacramento beat when it comes to sober entertainment (they are after all, juice bars!) we do have fond memories of City Limits and will do our part to frequent one of these establishments soon to pump money into the local economy.
PS the only crime committed is silly youngsters believing that the girls really are into them!
When we tell someone YOU cant be here or do this what do they do? They find away to be this and do that.
Amsterdam one if not the smartest city on the planet contains and legalizes all those things that are so hard for us to confront. In doing so they take tha criminal mind out of the equation AND create revenue for the city to boot! Its not the perfect solution but it is an effective one.
Mr Mayor look at Amsterdam and learn.
Outlaw... Legislatively restrict. Same difference.
If you want to be angry at the government for taking away your and my right to enter into a contract with another consenting adult to provide "boobs-in-face" for 20 bucks, I am on your side brother! But when you are on the right side of an argument, as I believe you are here, it greatly strengthens your case to gather and provide all of the facts that you can. And I am interested to read more about how the Sheriff's Department claims this new restriction will help the neighborhood. I hope that you will continue to follow this story and keep us readers in the know about what happens next! :)
I'm sorry Steve, I should also mention that "Single Mothers" are by far a minority of the entertainers. No one should assume they KNOW any entertainer.