Posted on 11/19/2001 12:38:13 PM PST by Stand Watch Listen
Daytona Beach, Florida (CNSNews.com) - Several adult-oriented businesses are embroiled in a bitter feud with Daytona Beach, Fla. officials who have ordered them to shut down or pay a hefty price.
Three adult stores, XTC Adult Supercenter, The Banned Bookstore and House of Leather were warned to cease offering sexually explicit merchandise or they would be fined $1,000 a day. Four adult clubs have been given a harsher ultimatum -- cease and desist altogether or be fined up to $5,000 a day.
The dispute landed in federal court over the summer, with the businesses suing the city over ordinances which control where such adult-oriented businesses can be placed. Late last month, a federal judge ruled the city could not shut the businesses down, but could levy fines as it saw fit. City officials recently began issuing notices warning about the fines, which are scheduled to take effect this week.
"All they have to do is shut down to avoid the fines,'' said Mayor Baron H. Asher.
The business owners, however, are adamant in their refusal to comply. "The deadline is bogus," said Mike Piscitelli, an associate with Ellenton Video Inc., which owns the XTC. "We're aware of their ultimatum and we know that they can issue citations up to $5,000 a day. However we are absolutely never leaving this location, under any circumstances or conditions.''
Ron Krenn, owner of Molly Brown's I and Molly Brown's II, a bikini dancing club and a nude dancing club respectively, echoed those sentiments.
"We're staying open no matter what," he said. "This whole thing is a circus show. They think they're going to fine us out of business, but we're not going anywhere."
Krenn said city officials have gone as far as fabricating violations to drive him out of business. Molly Brown's I was issued a $2,500 fine for one its female entertainers showing too much skin.
But Asher denied the fine was trumped up and said the city intends to fight until the end.
"We don't intend to back off one iota," Asher said. "We are going to rigidly enforce our zoning ordinances and land-development codes. Period. Exclamation point."
Asher added that if inspectors can prove the adult clubs, which include two others named The Pink Pony and Lollipops, remained open between the time of the first fine until the code board's December meeting, each will face a $100,000 fine.
Do XTC Adult Supercenter, The Banned Bookstore and House of Leather come to your house, take your kid and make him look at dirty pictures?
If they do, you have a case. If not, they are just some stores you can choose to avoid. No one is making you or your kid do anything.
I am against pollution, so I am glad these places are being shut down. I may be able to close my eyes and look the other way, but I would still have to live in the same city with those whose lives have been destroyeds by this stuff- and the women they have taken advantage of.
Thank God for the internet and private clubs.
I don't know. Are you implying that pornography is a recent invention?
The operators would not be fined, they be hung!
Idle speculation will get you nowhere. If you have some examples, lets have them.
I may be able to close my eyes and look the other way, but I would still have to live in the same city with those whose lives have been destroyeds by this stuff- and the women they have taken advantage of.
Oh, the horror of living someplace where everyone doesn't conform to your standards! The world does not belong to you. Lots of different people, some who you may not like live in it too. Unless they harm you, they are none of your business.
What about my freedom to raise my children free of the filth that these stores send out to pollute the culture?
I don't see that in the Constitution. Good luck making an amendment. Or you could just try keeping your children away from the place.
IF THESE SHOPS ARE FORCED TO SHUT DOWN, THE TERRORISTS WILL HAVE WON!
That was fun!
Stop buying it for them.
Please, how many cameras (video and still) were available in 1776 to produce pornography.
Many lives have been ruined by alcohol and many women taken advantage of because of alcohol. Are you suggesting we reinstitute prohibition? Hell, worked great the first time.
The nerve of these evil-doers.
Now that I think about it more, probably many. How about the porn in China and Japan from thousands of years ago? PORN PREDATES CHRIST!
Hey! I have no kids and I drive a minivan. And I drive it to the porn shop! Makes my purchases easier to transport home.
Other than a couple of rumors, I don't think so.
But, have heard mention of Bullets being considered as 'Hazardous Material'.
This will bring all type of legislation into play.
Also, may stop (or hinder) some of the National Carriers (Fed-Ex, UPS, etc...) from handling them.
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