http://www.newhavenregister.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=8198668&BRD=1281&PAG=461&dept_id=517514&rfi=6
Milford
residents applaud strict adult-business rules
Brian
McCready , Register Staff 06/03/2003
TOWN
TALK:
Milford's
adult-business crackdown?
MILFORD More than a dozen city residents pleaded with members
of the Board of Aldermens Ordinance Committee Monday to enact
what city officials say will be states strictest regulations
governing adult entertainment establishments.
The
Ordinance Committee unanimously approved the measure which would:
- Enact
a total ban on nudity and restrict partial nudity.
- License
club owners and managers.
- Prohibit
the licensing of club owners and personnel who have been convicted
or pleaded no contest to certain sex related felonies.
The
full Board of Aldermen will vote on the amended ordinance at a later
date, officials said.
Aldermanic
Minority Leader Gayle Slossberg, D-1, said City Attorney Marilyn
Lipton drafted the new ordinance at her request.
Slossberg
first raised the issue of tightening the city regulations that govern
adult entertainment in January.
Slossberg
said she received numerous complaints from residents of her district
about the secondary effects of adult establishments, including prostitution.
That led to her request.
"Milford
will be the leading community regulating these sort of establishments,
and Im proud that well be at the front of the pack,"
Slossberg said.
After Slossberg spoke, numerous residents came to the microphone
to lend their support to the proposal.
Mary
Nicoll said shes against any type of adult business that comes
to the city and "cheapens it."
"We
dont need this kind of stuff, and I hope we can get rid of
it," said Nicolls husband, Frank. "This is not free
speech, its an assault on our morality."
Marilyn
Carroll, who has two young grandchildren and lives near a strip
club, said shes concerned about the crime adult shops bring
to the city, including drugs and prostitution.
Tom
and Nancy Eldridge said they want to adopt a child, but have concerns
about the increasing number of adult businesses in the city.
"I
want a family community," Tom Eldridge said.
However,
Ernst Abt, a 10-year city resident, spoke against the proposed ordinance,
saying the city should not legislate morality.
"What
youre trying to do is legislate morality, which is immoral,"
Abt said. "Nobody is forcing anyone to enter these establishments."
Abt
predicted the new ordinance would be challenged in court and would
result in wasting taxpayer money.
"If
there was no market for these establishments, then they probably
would not exist," Abt said.
Alderman
Nick Veccharelli Jr., D-2, said adult entertainment establishments
"cheapen our community." He predicted the new ordinance
will force adult businesses to clean up its act.
"One
way to have evil succeed is to do nothing," Veccharelli said.
"This is worth a legal battle."
Mayor
James Richetelli Jr. said the proposed ordinance will benefit residents
by ensuring the citys image of a family town is protected.
Brian
McCready can be reached at bmccready@nhregister.com or at 876-6800.
©New
Haven Register 2003
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