news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20051005/od_nm/seattle_stripclubs_dc
Reuters Look, but don't touch, in strip clubs Wed Oct 5, 8:57 AM ET SEATTLE (Reuters) - Seattle, known as one of the more tolerant and libera l US cities, will require strip club patrons to stay at least four fee t away from entertainers, city officials said on Tuesday.
click here Fearing a spate of new strip clubs after a judge struck down a 17-year mo ratorium on new ones last month, the City Council voted 5-4 on Monday to adopt new adult-entertainment regulations, which also mandate brighter lighting on club premises and ban private rooms. Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels was expected to sign the bill into law later o n Tuesday, his office said. Efforts to adopt measures discouraging strip clubs from operating began a fter a federal judge ruled three weeks ago that the city's refusal to pr ocess strip club applications since 1988 was unconstitutional. While other larger US cities have dozens of the clubs, according to dir ectory listings, Seattle has only four. Seattle citizens overwhelmingly approved a measure last year to make mari juana offenses a "low priority" for police, but they are uncomfortable w ith the possibility of strip clubs operating in family-filled neighborho ods, said Pepper Schwartz, a sociology professor at the University of Wa shington. "This is ground zero for general liberalism," said Schwartz , "but people 's sensitivities even in liberal communities get aroused when they hear a strip club may be opening up in their backyard." Seattle adopted a moratorium on new strip club openings in 1988 while off icials looked into their social impact on neighborhoods. The moratorium was then extended indefinitely, effectively banning new clubs. "This is too much inte rference in business affairs," said Jean Godden, who voted against the n ew rules. "I'm fairly liberal-minded and I think the city should protect neighborhoods, but it shouldn't restrain a legitimate business." The ordinance will take effect in six months, or when the mayor proposes new zoning regulations, whichever comes later.
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