Capital Video Attorney Michael Pill has tried to portray himself as a First Amendment hero, suggesting that legal restrictions on porn shops are impermissible infringements on freedom of speech. However, not so long ago he was on the other side of the argument, trying to use the law to impede people from practicing their religions, […]
Debate on the Issues
Andrew Shelffo Denies Being Paid by Capital Video
Twenty-two days after being asked the question, Andrew Shelffo has at last declared on his MassLive blog: “I’m not being paid by Capital Video.” We applaud Mr. Shelffo’s new found candor, if not his promptness in responding to a relevant citizen inquiry. The ethics of citizen journalism may be somewhat uncharted territory, but there are […]
MassLive Blogger Andrew Shelffo Stonewalls on Conflict of Interest Question
Andrew Shelffo is a resident of Northampton who has a blog on MassLive, The Prospect Perspective. Since July, Mr. Shelffo has been vigorously advancing many of Capital Video’s arguments and attacking our own. On November 8, NoPornNorthampton asked him if he was being compensated in any way by Capital Video or its affiliates. We were […]
Why Northampton’s New Adult-Use Ordinances Are Not Spot Zoning
Some opponents of the adult-use zoning ordinances passed by the Northampton City Council on November 2 have been arguing that they constitute illegal “spot zoning” because the ordinance was partly motivated by opposition to a specific business, namely Capital Video’s plans for a large porn shop at 135 King Street. They say that the 1,000-square-foot […]
Credulity at Mopornnorthampton
Looks like the folks at Mopornnorthampton are easily flattered. A Mr. “Ulysses Lazarus” from Neurocam is apparently trying to play both sides of the issue today… To Mopornnorthampton: Dear Sir/Madam: As a duly appointed representative of Neurocam International, I am taking the opportunity to voice the support of the entire Neurocam family for your operation. […]
Capital Video Disregards Community Concerns
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 […]
Gazette: “Zoning laws set; But porn store’s plans unchanged”
Today’s Gazette reports on the City Council’s approval of adult-use zoning on November 2. The Republican also covers the story in “Council limits adult businesses”. Among other things, the new ordinances (see details) require that businesses with more than 1,000 square feet of adult material on display must locate in Northampton’s Highway Business District and be […]
WMass Librarians: No Sign of Censorship Following Adult-Use Zoning
Some of our opponents have argued that significant censorship is likely to follow if adult-use zoning regulations are passed in Northampton. Librarians in Western Massachusetts say this has not been their experience.NPN’s Jendi Reiter spoke today with librarians in several Massachusetts towns that passed adult-use zoning in the mid-1990s or earlier. We asked whether such measures […]
The Case for Secondary Effects
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, […]
Steinem on Flynt: “This pornography is as different from sex as rape is from sex”
Pornographers like Larry Flynt style themselves heroes of the First Amendment, and say that to oppose their products is to oppose sex and support censorship. Gloria Steinem disagrees, reports The Boston Globe: In an op-ed piece in Tuesday’s New York Times, Gloria Steinem equated [Larry] Flynt with a publisher of Ku Klux Klan books or […]