Detroit city council

[Homicidalheathen]

quote: "They want to use the city of Detroit as their dumping ground of their bottom-feeding, gutter-living behavior," said Richard Mack, an attorney and member of Perfecting Church. "Then they want to go back to their nice, suburban communities."

Detroit -- The City Council will debate a possible crackdown on the city's 33 topless bars today, including a ban on lap dances and VIP rooms, that one owner calls "un-American."

The changes could keep topless dancers six feet away from customers, on stages at least 18 inches high and in rooms of at least 600 square feet. That would make tipping dancers difficult and eliminate VIP rooms. Most club employees -- from disc jockeys to dishwashers -- also would have to pass background checks and wouldn't get licenses if they've committed specific crimes, including some drug and sexual offenses.

But that's not all. Some religious groups still are pushing for an alcohol ban and a requirement that dancers wear opaque pasties, despite council members who panned going that drastic earlier this summer.

Strip-club owners are promising to go to court, where the city already is facing about five lawsuits related to its regulation of clubs.

"I feel like I am operating in 1930s Russia," said Rob Katzman, owner of the Toy Chest Bar and Grille. "Why should they dictate what someone else enjoys?"

"We are on a high-speed train headed for millions in litigation."

The crackdown emerged earlier this summer, led by religious and neighborhood groups, who say the clubs bring down the city's property values and increase crime.

"They want to use the city of Detroit as their dumping ground of their bottom-feeding, gutter-living behavior," said Richard Mack, an attorney and member of Perfecting Church. "Then they want to go back to their nice, suburban communities."

"It's a shame that poor people, minority people are always the dumping ground for this."

It's not clear how far the city council -- which is in the midst of an election year -- will go in the crackdown. The meeting is at 2 p.m. in City Council chambers.

"We will hear from both sides and go from there," Councilwoman Alberta Tinsley-Talabi said Monday.

Mayor Dave Bing didn't have comment on the proposed changes Monday, which he could veto.

The crackdown stems from a court battle in which a federal judge in 2007 struck down Detroit's regulations on where clubs could open and ordered them rewritten. City staffers have recast the laws, but added tougher proposed restrictions elsewhere.

The city has spent $75,000 to get advice from Scott Bergthold, a Tennessee attorney who has worked nationwide to shut clubs down. And it has settled two federal lawsuits involving strip clubs recently for almost $670,000. The clubs say they bring in more than $3 million annually to Detroit in property taxes and fees, and employ nearly 6,700 people.

Larry Kaplan, executive director of ACE of Michigan, the state association of clubs, said they approached the city's law department about a "stipulated injunction," in which the city would hold off on the changes while the clubs challenged their legality in court.

The clubs would agree not to pursue damages. The law department refused, Kaplan said.

Mack said he believes all the proposals are legal. Similar measures were instituted in Grand Rapids, he said.

[AstralCrux]

Dude I live a mile from Cheetahs in Southfield. I don't have drug addicts walking up and down my street. I have nice neighbors that walk their dogs in the morning and take couples' strolls in the afternoon. The kids stay mostly quiet and I barely notice I have neighbors when I'm not waving hello. I say let 'em strip!

[jynxxxedangel]

Detroit is biting the hand that feeds it, on this one. I guess they think they aren't making enough revenue off the dirty business, by charging an arm and a leg for entertainers to purchase cabaret cards (a special ID card issued by the Detroit Police Department). The fees are getting steeper and steeper, too. Most exotic entertainers have to pay upwards of 300 dollars per annum, just to be able to work in the clubs.

Detroit adult entertainment ordinance

Edited September 22, 2009 by jynxxxedangel

[Homicidalheathen]

I heard you have to pass a drug test as well, to get said card.

[Msterbeau]

I remember the earlier flaps about this. It's all moralistic bullshit. It's too bad the other cities/counties aren't any better. Spreading them out would be better for everyone. Well... except for the patron's pockets. :-P

[jynxxxedangel]

Oh well...there's still Dearborn!

[Msterbeau]

Realistically... all the places along 8 Mile are just barely within Detroit borders.

[Tacohitts]

Detroit city council is a joke and always will be a joke.

[IsleofRhodesEnt]

Good...I don't like sleezy lap dances.

Now, those really classy lap dances...you know..the ones that you get in front of everyone from the HOTTEST chick in there....those I FULLY SUPPORT!!!!

[Head Wreck]

and does the city council intend to offer alternative employment opportunities for the people out of work?

[LittleMissLuckyCunt (1)]

Detroit city council is a joke and always will be a joke.

Exactly.

[GothicRavenGoddess (3)]

and does the city council intend to offer alternative employment opportunities for the people out of work?

+1

[Tacohitts]

You always have Flint to see "jugs"

[IsleofRhodesEnt]

You always have Flint to see "jugs"

you leave my abandoned dog on the side of the road out of this....

j/king

[jynxxxedangel]

Next, they'll be trying to make musicians and panhandlers purchase cards, in order to be able to entertain in Detroit. I know just as many drunk/druggie/drifter/loser/jailbird/wasted-cases who play on street-corners and in bands, as I do drunk/druggie/drifter/jailbird/wasted-case dancers...

Think about it.

Edited September 24, 2009 by jynxxxedangel