A 1995 Union-News article quotes State Senator Rosenberg (D-Amherst) as supporting adult-use zoning:“I recognize the courts have upheld the Constitutional Rights of people to buy and sell these materials. The courts have also said governments have the right to regulate where such materials are sold.”In the matter of Hadley trying to relocate a sex shop, […]
Continue reading State Senator Stanley Rosenberg Supports Adult-Use Zoning
After Capital Video established itself in Springfield in 1990, Springfield’s City Council made its adult-use regulations more stringent (“Board backs reining in adult stores: Council vote paves way for Springfield restriction”, Union-News, 6/29/93): New businesses purveying adult entertainment such as pornographic books, videos or peep shows would need special permits under a law granted initial […]
Continue reading Springfield Tightened Adult-Use Regulations in 1993 in Response to Citizen Concerns
The Union-News studied porn and the porn industry in 1994. One article discussed the impact of porn on women: Tina’s boyfriend would watch the same x-rated movie repeatedly and then force her to reenact the kinky things he saw. Or he’d go to strip bars.“He used to come back from these shows and I was terrified,” […]
Continue reading Northampton Shelter Coordinators: Porn a Factor in Many Cases of Domestic Abuse
Capital Video is proposing to build a 6,222-square-foot porn shop at 135 King Street. Their current plans call for 25 parking spaces, possibly less in the winter due to snow storage.In 1994, the Union-News made this observation about Bookends, a porn shop in Enfield: “The 44 Enfield St. Bookends, with a refurbished interior and 6,000-square-foot […]
Continue reading Parking May Not Be a Trivial Issue for Proposed King Street Porn Shop
In 1994, Chicopee aldermen unanimously approved regulations on adult businesses. These included keeping them at least 500 feet from schools, libraries, parks, playgrounds and recreational areas. The Union-News reported, Several aldermen on the 13-member body pointed to recurring problems and ongoing struggles in cities such as Springfield and Holyoke which do not have laws on […]
At today’s Planning Board meeting, NoPornNorthampton had a brief exchange with Capital Video’s Anthony Nota. Public documents submitted to the Planning Board list Mr. Nota as a Capital Video “project manager”. Mr. Nota is a large, tall man. He is pictured here standing in City Council chambers beside Capital Video’s lawyer, Michael Pill. Towards the end of […]
Continue reading Capital Video Representative Swears at NoPornNorthampton During Public Meeting
Today’s Gazette reports on the Planning Board meeting scheduled for tonight. Capital’s Video’s Site Plan has been scheduled for review at 8:30pm, but the board may decide to “continue” (delay) voting on the plan in light of adult-use zoning now being considered by the City Council.“Even if a vote isn’t taken, [senior planner Carolyn] Misch said, the […]
Continue reading Gazette: “Planning Board to hear video, hotel proposals”
Capital Video has had a porn shop at 486 Bridge Street in Springfield since 1990. Many citizens and local businesses were unhappy about it from the start. To protest the shop, residents Leslie Pasquini and her husband Ronald “helped garner 600 signatures sent to [District Attorney William M.] Bennett.” (Union-News, 1/24/92, p. 20)City Councilor William […]
Continue reading Springfield Citizens Beat Back an Expansion of Their Capital Video Porn Shop
Michael Pill, the attorney for pornography franchise Capital Video Corporation, handed out a memorandum (PDF) at the October 19 City Council meeting that seriously misrepresents the facts and issues at stake in the controversy over Capital Video’s plans to open a 6,200-square-foot adult emporium at 135 King Street, adjacent to a residential neighborhood. Dr. Pill (he has […]
Today’s Daily Hampshire Gazette reports on the debate leading up to the Northampton City Council’s approval of adult-use regulations at yesterday’s public meeting. Each regulation was approved by a two-thirds majority of the council or greater. The meeting was “standing-room only.”Those quoted in favor of the regulations included…Council president Michael Bardsley: “This isn’t a ban; we’re […]