Demonstrators say strip clubs ruin neighborhoods
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PORTLAND, Ore. - Dozens of demonstrators hit the streets Friday night saying they want strip clubs closed because they attract crime.
They say there are fights, public displays of nudity, sex, vandalism, drug abuse and just too much noise for neighborhoods near the Acropolis.
But the club owners, patrons and those who work at the Acropolis say the area is an industrial corridor and the real goal of the protesters is to stop a new club on the other side of the Acropolis from opening in a vacated Wendy’s restaurant.
About two dozen protesters demonstrated on State Highway 99 East. They carried signs and said they want two clubs closed down along the highway in Milwaukie and Southeast Portland in addition to not wanting the new one opened.
"We heard from 25 to 30 residents in the neighborhood who were concerned about a new club coming in, because we were already having problems with Acropolis and Blush," said Eric Miller, with the Sellwood-Moreland Neighborhood Association.
Johnny "Diablo" Zukle, who plans to open Casa Diablo next door to the Acropolis, held his own counterdemonstration with 50 employees and patrons. They said they want their freedom of expression protected.
"The Oregon Supreme Court decided that freedom of speech is what’s important," Zukle said. "If they don't like strip clubs, don't spend any money there."
He said there is an ongoing effort by SOS Oregon to close any business that deals with sex or nudity. He said the group incites outrage within neighborhood groups with bogus claims, and then they use those allegations to force an Oregon Liquor Control Commission investigation.
"By them acting this way, it slows down the liquor licensing process and that slows us from creating more jobs that the economy needs," Zukle said.
Portland police crime analysts were not available Friday night to comment on crime in the area. According to a couple of crime reporting websites, as far as the Acropolis location goes, there has been one crime report filed in the past month – an assault. In the past year, no reports of sex crimes as described by the protesters were found.
I also don't see how freedom of speech applies to strip clubs. Â Yes there's the freedom of expression but that ties to the individual. Â It does not apply to the business itself.
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For those that feel it is, let me give an analogy. Â I'm taking it to the extreme to prove a point and some will likely find it offensive.
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Let's assume opening up a business is actually protected by freedom of speech.  Assume someone decided to open a store that sold pro-terrorism merchandise.  All of the merchandise is 100% legal and the store (including it's owners) do not directly or indirectly support terrorists groups other than the sale of related merchandise.  None of the money ever goes to these groups.  The owners will not tolerate illegal acts in their store or on their property.   Do you still believe they have the right to do this?
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I may as well break down the analogy for those that simply do not get it. Â The opening up the store to solely sell -pro-terorism merchandise parrallels opening a club where women dance nude. Â Both are essentially protected rights (still under the assumption that opening a business is protected freedom of speech). Â
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These particular business also attract certain types of crime related to it.  Strip clubs attracts prostitution and drugs (ignoring drunkenness since that occurs at any bar as well). The store selling pro-terrorism merchandise will likely attract those who want to do terrorist acts or hate acts.  In both examples neither is desired by either business but have a high chance of occurring due to the nature of the business. Â
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If anyone wants to CONSTRUCTIVELY argue against me then feel free to.  Of course you can do whatever you want.  If anyone can prove me wrong about opening a business such as a strip club not being protected by free speech then show me the actual code in the law that states so or an actual court case showing a precedent.  I do not consider pro-stripper websites as being reliable sources. Â
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Consider this an exercise to do actual research about something you care about rather than blindly thinking your side is correct. Â Your side may or may not be correct but you'll never know for sure unless you do actually research gathering data from credible (non-biased) sources. Â There's so many arguments that I have seen over the past few months where people assume what they read on the internet is correct.
The reasoning that the strip club will create jobs is false. Â Stripping does not count as a job since it benefits nobody than themselves. Â Only 10% of the strippers actually pay their taxes. Â If only the IRS could check bank accounts, run credit checks, look for new car titles, etc then you'd see just how bad things are. Â A lot of the strippers' money will just go for drugs anyway which also are not taxed. Â
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Casa Diablo is over-hyped and over-priced. Â It costs $6 for a glass of beer and you're required to pay a minimum of $2 when tipping. Â You're even given those disgusting $2 bills as change if you buy your drinks with a $20. Â There's also a $5 cover charge on weekends where you're given the opportunity to get a free lap dance. Â I have yet to see anyone win one. Â Their dances are also $40 and the songs last the typical 2.5 minutes at most. Â Their dances are nothing special and whatever they claim they do different is actually done everywhere else. Â
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I'll also add that there's high chance of drug use/sale due to the amount of money that freely flows at strip clubs. Â I've seen drug sales/use go on in the restrooms and have heard numerous strippers claim they have drugs in their bag in the back room.
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There's also tax evasion which I mentioned already. Â I personally feel that strippers should be put on the business' payroll so they are paid minimum wage plus tips. Â It'll provide more financial stability for the strippers and will likely increase the amount of taxes the government gets. Â
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The owner keeps a portion of the tips to cover the expenses of having them on payroll and not collecting the stage fee. Â If the stripper honestly paid taxes then this amount being subtracted is irrelevant as they would have already been paying this amount out.
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The amount of tips the stripper makes is recorded along with their wage. Â All of this is then reported to the IRS just as every other business does for their employees. Â If the stripper already pays taxes then they really lose nothing. Â