[Updated on 1/5/08]
Just hitting the wires now from The Republican: Springfield Mayor Charles Ryan says Amazing.net’s viewing booths must stay shut in 2008:
Springfield Mayor Charles Ryan has rejected an adult-oriented store’s request to reinstate its entertainment license for 2008…
Ryan’s decision Friday came after police reported patrons were still being allowed to use the booths, despite the [2007] license revocation…
The store operator’s attorney says they will appeal Ryan’s decision in Hampden Superior Court.
MassLive, the Republican’s website, adds:
Ryan in his five-page decision also said the Police Department should seek criminal complaints for the operation of the store’s 16 booths without a license…
Ryan said his denial was based on two factors. One was evidence that the store has kept operating the video booths without a license.
The second factor was that having the video booths previously encouraged “prostitution, assignation or lewdness, sexual assaults and are connected to drug activity …,” he said.
Last June 19, the Gazette reported how Capital Video attributed its Springfield store problems to “employee breakdown”. Property manager Anthony E. Nota said that an enhanced video surveillance system would monitor activity inside and outside the store, and that this video could be viewed at any time via remote laptop and from Capital Video’s security center in Rhode Island. All this suggests to us that Capital Video as a whole is now implicated in its current license violation. Its problems in Springfield can no longer be blamed on one or a few local employees.
See also:
Springfield Republican: “Ryan denies permit for booths” (1/5/08)
[Mayor] Ryan said the store, owned by Capital Video Corp. of Cranston, R.I., “has flagrantly refused” to comply with his Nov. 16 license revocation…
Ryan said his denial was based on two factors. One was evidence that the store has kept operating the video booths without a license.
That showed “egregious contempt” for the law and police should seek criminal complaints if the booths keep operating, Ryan said.
The second factor prompting the license denial was that having the video booths previously encouraged “prostitution, assignation or lewdness, sexual assaults and are connected to drug activity …,” Ryan said.
Gazette: “Springfield mayor raps conduct by porn store” (1/5/08)
Springfield Republican: “Police report continued use of booths at adult store” (1/3/08)
A police sergeant said in a public hearing today that patrons were using video booths at the Amazing.net adult-themed store on Bridge Street as recently as yesterday, even though the store’s license has been revoked…
Police Sgt. Norman F. Charest said he inspected the store yesterday, saw that patrons were using two of the booths and said an employee told him the booths had been in operation since she began working there in May…
Full Text of Springfield’s Decision to Revoke Capital Video’s [2007] Viewing Booth Entertainment License
Viewing Booths and HIV: An Open Letter to Thomas Lesser of Northampton, Attorney for Capital Video
Lesser Newman: Capital Video Has Seen the Light and Will Make its Springfield Viewing Booths Safe
Employee Arrested for Selling Poppers at Amazing.net in Boston (12/28/07)