Raynham, MA (population 12,000) hosts a Video X-tra Adult Superstore. The Enterprise, a regional newspaper, reports today: The business–the town’s only adult video store featuring closet-sized video “preview viewing” rooms–has become an indoor meeting spot for men seeking sex with other men, a Sunday Enterprise investigation has shown… Larry Ravech of Stoughton, one of the […]
Continue reading Raynham, MA: “Shock, outrage over sex acts in store”
Citizens of Northampton are not the only ones concerned about how adult businesses present themselves. The 12/10/06 Hartford Courant reports: Hartford has an image issue. For those trying to sell it, the city is all about New England charm, wholesome family outings, high culture, good food and vibrant neighborhoods… But…[f]rom either direction [on I-91], big […]
Continue reading Courant: “‘Adult’ Businesses Add To Hartford’s Image Woes”
Some of our opponents require unreasonable degrees of proof that adult businesses cause secondary effects and aggressively question the right of cities to regulate them. Fortunately, the US Supreme Court better understands the realities of urban planning. Here we quote from the majority decision in City of Los Angeles v Alameda Books (2002). The matter […]
Gary Porter is the general manager for V.I.P., a chain of porn shops that is trying to open a large new store next to a residential neighborhood in Berlin, CT. Town officials have rejected their permit application as not consistent with local ordinances and the company has sued. In a November 17 newspaper article, Mr. […]
[Updated: 3/4/07, 6/1/08] The official site for Nye County, Nevada contains a large trove of research on adult-use zoning and the secondary effects of adult businesses. This compilation of studies (PDF) spans a wide range of times and places in America, and we have augmented it here with links from Community Defense Counsel. Some highlights: […]
Continue reading Secondary Effects Across America: 1977-1999
From “Is it Safe to Walk? Neighborhood Safety and Security Considerations and Their Effects on Walking”, Journal of Planning Literature, February 2006 (p. 225): The importance of walking and physical activity as determinants of good health has been well established in the medical and public health literature, but a significant number of Americans live sedentary […]
Islip, NY published a detailed strategy and rationale for regulating adult businesses through zoning (PDF) in 1980. Here are some of their findings which have a bearing on Northampton’s new ordinances, especially the desire to keep downtown Northampton pedestrian-friendly: Planning relies heavily on public participation, both by federal government mandate and by professional standards. The principle […]
In today’s Gazette (“What may follow new ordinances”), Capital Video general counsel Lesley Rich claims the company enjoys “an excellent relationship with its host communities”.If that’s the case, I wonder why Springfield residents and officials pushed back against the expansion of the Capital Video store at 486 Bridge Street. The store was established in 1990. Capital […]
Continue reading Capital Video Disregards Community Concerns
Some people question the reality of secondary effects of adult businesses. NoPornNorthampton would like to present a summary of some of our research into this issue. Secondary effects have been seen in towns as large as New York City and as small as Kittery, Maine. These effects have been seen in the 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, […]
Wayne Feiden, Northampton’s Director of Planning and Development, has released final versions of several adult-use zoning ordinances for our city councilors to vote on tomorrow. We invite you to download the file and look it over:Adult-Use Zoning Ordinances – Final Draft of 10/31/06 (PDF)Some highlights: Establishments with porn viewing booths (private or semi-private) must be located in […]