Albert Lavallee wrote the following to Mayor Higgins today…As a former Northamptonite who resided at 128 King Street from 1939 to 1956, I think it is a travesty that [a porn] business could operate at the old Chevrolet Dealership. It would appear to me that any other business than a porn shop could successfully operate […]
Continue reading Preserve Northampton, Former King Street Resident Asks Mayor
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 Gazette publishes a letter to the editor by Robin Maltz of Northampton. She agrees with NoPornNorthampton in that she believes “the porn industry is corrupt, sexist and exploitative.” She also “take[s] issue with the proposed location of Capital Video” at 135 King Street.Ms. Maltz is less approving of our recent mass-mailed open letter to […]
Continue reading A Response to “Critics of the porn store don’t speak for everyone”
Capital Video’s attorney, Michael Pill, likes to style himself as the defender of the underdog. Let’s ask, who is the underdog in this situation, and who has power?Capital Video describes itself as “the largest adult retail chain in the nation”. Owner Kenneth Guarino told Dun & Bradstreet that sales for 2005 amounted to $21,005,399. He […]
Many porn shop defenders appear to believe that shame is always bad, and public shaming is always wrong. Capital Video attorney Michael Pill is quoted in today’s Republican as saying, “‘I hope we’ve gone beyond Puritan Massachusetts and the scarlet letter and public shaming.’”We say that shame is not always bad. Shame is a natural […]
80% of prostitution survivors at the WHISPER Oral History Project reported that their customers showed them pornography to illustrate the kinds of sexual activities in which they wanted to engage. 52% of the women stated that pornography played a significant role in teaching them what was expected of them as prostitutes. 30% reported that their […]
Continue reading Pornography Trains and Indoctrinates Prostitutes
The Massachusetts Attorney General’s Division of Public Charities has issued a Certificate for Solicitation to NoPornNorthampton. This means we are now permitted to raise funds from the public. As we’ve stated before, we have no intention or expectation of making a profit from our activism. We use donated funds to support our efforts in research, education and […]
Continue reading Attorney General Issues Certificate for Solicitation to NoPornNorthampton
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 […]
Northampton’s City Council approved all three adult-use ordinances under consideration at tonight’s public meeting. These ordinances regulate signage with adult content, require a 500-foot buffer zone between shops with porn viewing booths and homes/schools/houses of worship, and require a similar 500-foot buffer zone between large adult enterprises and homes/schools/houses of worship. A large adult enterprise […]
Continue reading Breaking News: City Council Approves Adult Use Ordinances at First Reading
From The New York Times, “Sex-Related Shops Make Comeback Near Times Sq.”, 3/15/05… Ten years after Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani declared war on Times Square’s X-rated peep shows, strip joints and video stores, shops selling sexually explicit materials have slowly begun to creep back into the area, adroitly exploiting loopholes in the law–and property-owners’ demand […]
Continue reading New York City Porn Shops Depress Demand for Neighboring Properties