....there, did I make things better???
Posted on 05/02/2005 7:37:27 AM PDT by KidGlock
N.J. Beach Town Repeals 30-Year Speedo Ban
By JOHN CURRAN, Associated Press Writer Sat Apr 30, 7:53 PM ET
CAPE MAY, N.J. - Come on in, Speedo wearers, the water's fine: Your skimpy little swimsuits are legal now. For more than 30 years, this quaint little Victorian-themed resort at the southern tip of New Jersey said no to "skintight, formfitting or bikini type" bathing attire on males over the age of 12.
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For an ocean resort that once required men and women to swim at different times of day, wearing heavy woolen, cover-everything swimsuits, it made sense to modernize.
"It's a beach town, for God's sake," said Police Chief Diane Sorantino. The town also agreed to lift a rule that stopped bare-chested men from strolling along the beachfront promenade.
Not that everyone's cheering. It's often the older guys — the ones with beer guts, or wrinkly skin, or unsightly tufts of hair — who wear the tiny swimsuits.
"The people you want to see in the Speedos, you don't," said Maggie Creighton, 19, who works in a downtown lingerie store.
Locals who share the beaches with tourists said that despite the ban, the itsy bitsy suits have been a common sight in summer, even though most surf shops and beachwear retailers here don't sell them.
"A lot of people do come in and say `Do you carry Speedos?' said Becky Fitzgerald, sales clerk at Della's General Store. "It's the 40- to 50-year-old group who ask. And it's funny, their bodies aren't the shape for Speedos."
The swimsuit ban was enacted in the 1960s in response to complaints about gay men who wore the suits on the beach, according to former mayor Robert Elwell, who writes a Cape May history column for a local newspaper.
But the ban was rarely if ever enforced, according to the city, which voted to amend its beach regulations last week.
City Administrator Luciano Corea Jr. said the skimpy swimsuit ban was largely unknown. There was no push to eliminate it, but doing so made sense, he said.
"We had no complaints, and we've never issued a summons for it, to my knowledge," said Corea. "Technically, we could've left it on the books. It was never enforced anyway."
Vince Grimm, executive director of GABLES of Cape May County, a gay advocacy organization, said the ban was outdated and holds no particular significance for gays.
"We're no different than anyone else. If they (the suits) are in style, we wear them," said Grimm.
Charlotte Beheler, owner of Sports `n Stuff, which sells Speedos for $25.95, said they're not among her top sellers.
She doesn't expect any big boom in sales this summer — or an explosion of skin on the beaches. Neither does Speedo, which says the men's brief-style suits make up only 1 percent of the Los Angeles-based company's sales.
"I could see that people may buy more, but I don't think it'll be a huge dramatic change," said Speedo marketing manager Lesley Benko.
Still, some people will be watching the beaches this year just to see who's wearing what.
"I haven't been to the beach in years, but now I'm thinking I'll go down there this year," said Joann Quinn, of North Cape May. "The beach ought to be interesting this year."
What this article is missing is the reason behind the law in the first place. The ban was put in to keep Cape May from being overrun by the French Canadians the way Wildwood was. And it worked. They all went to Wildwood where the speedos are everywhere. With prices going through the roof, Jerseyites and Pennsylvanians are returning to Wildwood to take advantage of the lower prices. Now, we may start seeing the Frenchies going to Cape May.
....want me to smack him for you?
On second thought, maybe you could do that better than me, I'm just a wimpy housewife.
I've always said once a law is passed they hardly ever repeal laws (unless they are for tax cuts) and now this proves that the only "overturned" laws are laws that should be kept in place.
SweetCaroline, I can handle the light work thanks.
pissant, pray I don't treat you like BONO.
Unfortunately for you I'm the spanker not the spankee. Get in line woman!
I am never in line, and I am not starting now. Nonconformity rules.
Hey, I'm not going to spring for your bail if you pull a "Bono" on me!
Are you trying to back out on the deal?
Gezzeeee pissant, she's a biker chick !
....do you know who your messin with??
She could probably wipe the floor with you!
No! the Bono deal still stands, whether I end up having to spank you or not!
What is this man thinking? Appalling bad taste, on so many levels.
I think you are still confused as to who is going to be doing the spanking. (Hint: It's not you.)
"She could probably wipe the floor with you!"
____________________________________________
And she worked in a men's prison too. I guess I better watch myself. Plus I want her to save her violent energy for a certain rock star. ;o)
If you can pull it off, I'm all yours! Good luck.
....there, did I make things better???
Well, somewhat. I am blonder than that, and there would be a Harley in the picture. It is the thought that counts. And yours was nicer than pissants.
Oh I have no doubt I could pull it off. But, I think your wife and my husband may have a problem with this spanking situation. (LOL) We may both be getting spanked at home.
I'll let you hold onto that fantasy (kinda like my one where you have a hot mullet).
But I agree the spousal reaction may not be good. ;o)
You left out the ear rings! What's that I see?...are those tan lines from a bra? That dude does have at least B cups from where I'm sitting.
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