NCJ Number
172519
Journal
Governing Volume: 11 Issue: 1 Dated: (October 1997) Pages: 48-53
Date Published
1997
Length
6 pages
Annotation
This article discusses examples of the movement of X-rated businesses from America's inner cities to the suburbs.
Abstract
The fundamental problem facing cities trying to prohibit strip clubs and other sexually oriented business is that the cities are losing court challenges. The US Supreme Court ruled more than 20 years ago that nude dancing can be a protected form of expression under the First Amendment. But in 1991, the court said that localities could require dancers to cover up at least a little. Rather than trying to regulate what goes on in the clubs, many cities attempt to use zoning to control where the clubs locate, so as to minimize their secondary effects: crime, decreased property values and tax revenues, traffic, noise, litter and the spread of sexually transmitted diseases. Although there have been challenges to some of these laws as well, most communities have found it is best to have some form of "sexually oriented businesses" zoning ordinance on the books to at least place an obstacle in their path.