 Detroit
City Council have approved further repression of the city's 31 topless
clubs. They have banned VIP rooms and lap dancing, but still allow the
clubs to serve booze.
The council also voted unanimously to pass new zoning regulations
limiting where new clubs could open.
The action comes one day after more than 500 people attended a 3.5
hour public hearing on the issue. The majority backed tougher
regulations, which included the alcohol prohibition and opaque pasties
that the council has abandoned. The watering-down of the rules
infuriated religious nutters.
The Reverend Nutter Marvin Winans, pastor of Perfecting Church who
led the fight for tougher rules, promised to continue the battle:
Detroit deserves better, said Winans, who added he had no specific plans
for a next step. The people are going to have the last word.
Strip club owners and employees said the crackdown would cripple
their business, but after the vote, Larry Kaplan of the Association of
Club Executives said they would do our best to live within the
restrictions.
During the debate, Assistant Police Chief Ralph Godbee warned an
alcohol ban at topless clubs could drive the behavior underground,
creating more blind pigs. He added it would be harder for police to make
sure underage girls aren't dancing at the blind pigs. Licensed clubs
could lose their liquor license for certain violations.
The new rules would ban VIP rooms, require most employees get
licenses from the city and limit dancers to 18-inch tall stages, which
essentially bans lap dancing. The rules also ban touching, even when
dancers are clothed.
Other changes include:
- All employees would have to get licenses and pass background
checks except bathroom attendants, valets and repair and delivery
workers. The city has yet to determine the cost of the licenses.
- Employees couldn't get licenses if they have certain criminal
convictions, including sexual or drug related crimes.
- New clubs have to be at least 1,000 feet from another club, house,
park, school or church.
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