One way to get a sense of the impact of porn in today’s America is to review the historical experience in other countries. ProtectKids.com (PDF) again weighs in with interesting things to say… One area where porn advocates are happy to talk about correlational studies is in relation to Denmark, where the government lifted pornography […]
Continue reading Porn and Sex Crimes in Other Countries: The Historical Experience
One night in Memphis about 15 years ago, Carolyn McKenzie accompanied a vice cop on a tour of adult bookstores, strip clubs, and a “modeling studio”. This mother of four and former public-health nurse had organized protests and filed complaints with the district attorney’s office over the porn shops and strip clubs that dotted suburban […]
Those looking to draft local legislation regarding adult businesses should get a hold of Local Regulation of Adult Businesses (2007 edition), by Jules B. Gerard and Scott D. Bergthold. From the description: Provides detailed, up-to-date case law Focuses on the four main regulatory devices of obscenity, zoning, licensing, and nuisance control Examines recent United States […]
Continue reading Recommended Book: Local Regulation of Adult Businesses (2007 edition)
Our opponents are insatiable for evidence about adult businesses and secondary effects, and we mean to satisfy them. In January 2000, Kevin Smith, detective with the Metro Street Enforcement Team (Detroit), gave this testimony to the Michigan House Ethics and Constitutional Law Committee regarding anti-pornography legislation… [We] began investigating the Melody Theater in June of […]
Continue reading Detroit Police Testimony: What I Saw at the Melody Theater
Capital Video claims it enjoys an “excellent relationship with its host communities”. That doesn’t appear to be the case in Springfield. Urban Compass, a blog at the Valley Advocate, reports today that Regarding the [Springfield Capital Video] store, Police Commissioner Edward Flynn put out a call recently for downtown residents to attend a License Commission […]
Mike Kirby and Lu Stone, long-time residents of Summer Street, have appealed the Northampton Planning Board’s approval of Capital Video’s Site Plan. The appeal was filed with the Massachusetts Land Court on January 8, 2007. The named defendants are the members of the Planning Board and Capital Video. Kirby and Stone live within 300 feet […]
In December, Capital Video initially proposed a bondage display for the outside of their porn shop at 135 King Street. When some Northampton Planning Board members objected at the Capital Video Site Plan Review on December 14, Capital Video attorney Michael Pill withdrew the display and verbally asserted the company would instead adhere to a […]
We believe Capital Video’s Site Plan (PDF) for 135 King Street falls short of the requirements in Northampton’s Zoning Ordinance, and that citizens have grounds to appeal its approval. Here are elements we believe to be relevant from the zoning ordinance (emphasis added): Section 1.3 – Purpose This Ordinance is enacted for the following purposes: […]
Continue reading Northampton Site Plan Approval Requirements; Capital Video’s Plan Falls Short
We are pleased to see another anti-porn blog initiated by citizens, this time the residents of Johns Creek, Georgia. Johns Creek is a newly incorporated city near Atlanta. At issue is a retail store called the “Love Shack”. Johns Creek has enacted ordinances regulating Sexually Oriented Businesses (SOBs), but Love Shack owner John Cornetta says […]
One of our more prolific commenters says that raising awareness is overrated, and claims that “there are a lot of things you could be doing that would have a much greater impact than what you’re actually doing”. Another commenter questioned how much impact one blog in one small town can have. Don’t look now, but […]
Continue reading Raynham, MA Selectman: “If Northampton has done something, we will look at it”