Today’s Gazette publishes a letter to the editor from James J. Palermo of Florence. He writes,“Constitutionally protected rights are frequently regulated lawfully. For example, we have the right to bear arms, but we do not permit people to carry loaded guns within city limits, or to carry a handgun without a permit. While we have […]
Continue reading Letter to Gazette: “Restrictions can be placed on our constitutional rights”
By popular request, we provide here a summary of the present situation and suggest what people can do to preserve the health of the area around 135 King Street. In late June, Capital Video Corporation, a major pornographic video retailer and producer, signaled that it wanted to open a “big-box” adult video store at 135 King Street […]
Continue reading Recap: How Things Stand, and What You Can Do
The lead editorial in today’s Daily Hampshire Gazette throws its support behind recent efforts to regulate adult businesses in Northampton: Northampton is on the right track in using its zoning authority to discourage a proposed pornography shop from opening on King Street, but more work has to be done to ensure the city’s actions can […]
At the scene of Thursday’s city council meeting, Springfield’s NBC affiliate WWLP briefly interviewed Adam Cohen from NoPornNorthampton. “…Northampton residents…came to tell the mayor they support a proposed ordinance to create a combat zone for adult-type businesses, away from schools, homes, and churches. Mayor Clare Higgins supports the creation of an adult business zone, but […]
Continue reading WWLP Springfield: “Northampton Residents Address Several Issues”
Today’s Gazette features a front-page article on the proposed new ordinance to regulate the size and location of adult businesses:“Mayor Clare Higgins and two city councilors are calling for a zoning amendment that could derail plans for an adult video and magazine store on King Street…“If the proposed ordinance becomes law, it would stand in […]
Continue reading Gazette: “Measure takes aim at adult store”
We have received the text of the new proposed adult-use ordinance and are pleased to present it here. This proposal is on the Northampton City Council meeting agenda for 9/21. These meetings take place at 212 Main Street behind City Hall. The public is welcome to attend. The public comment period begins at 7:15pm. Mayor […]
At the 9/21 Northampton City Council meeting, a new adult-use zoning ordinance proposal is on the agenda: Amend Appendix A § 2.1 and 5.2 Regulate the location and size of adult entertainment (to be referred to Ordinance Committee and Economic Development, Housing and Land Use Committee) The public is welcome to attend this meeting, which […]
Today’s Gazette publishes a letter to the editor from Lynn Shelley-Sireci of Florence, a parent of three young sons: “…Proponents of this shop are quick to argue that it is the responsibility of parents to monitor what their children see, and if you don’t like it, don’t go in. But what are parents supposed to […]
Continue reading Letter to Gazette: “Protect families, children from porn shop on King St.”
The September 5 edition of USA Today reports on resistance to porn shops in small towns: “The multibillion-dollar sex industry has branched into the heartland, often along interstates,” and that trend is spurring local governments and community activists to mount aggressive efforts to shut down adult stores that sell pornography, The Courier-Journal of Louisville, Ky., […]
Continue reading USA Today: “‘Porn wars’ flaring in the heartland”
Today’s Republican reports on proposed ordinances that will strengthen the regulation of adult businesses in Northampton: “Ward 3 Councilor Marilyn A. Richards and Ward 6 Councilor Marianne L. LaBarge presented two ordinances at last week’s council meeting that could affect Capital Video, which wants to open an adult-theme store at 135 King St….“Richards said the […]
Continue reading The Republican: “Proposals aimed at porn store”