(Memphis) Councilman Shea Flinn said he would like to form a committee to talk about a possible adult-entertainment district.
“There’s a problem with the aerotropolis right now, there’s a problem in various neighborhoods, and it’s a way to holistically deal with this issue. But it also broaches the initial subject of, can we do better than we’re doing now?” Flinn said.
Flinn said he would support allowing the businesses to sell beer, as an incentive to move to the special adult entertainment district.
A county ordinance that came into effect in January prohibits alcohol at any adult-oriented business. Such businesses need to be licensed. Their dancers cannot be naked, cannot touch the customers and must dance on stage, not amongst the audience.
County Commissioner Mike Ritz said the ordinance is changing the way the business is done.
“They’re operating in such a way as to avoid being adult-oriented businesses, because if they get in that classification, they’re going to have to quit selling beer,” Ritz said.
In fact, no one has applied for an adult-oriented business license. Instead, one club for example, has taken the word “strip” out of their sign. It now says “the ultimate — joint”. They call themselves a “bikini bar”.
Ritz disagrees with the idea of a special district, saying it would undo the current ordinance.
“It becomes a combat zone. Essentially, it’s just overrun with criminal activity, especially drugs,” Ritz said.
Flinn said the ordinance has helped, but has not moved the clubs out of the neighborhoods.
Everyone agrees it may be difficult to pin down a location for such a district. Flinn hopes the committee can discuss possibilities. That committee would include representatives from the district attorney’s office and Memphis police.
The law enforcement agencies have often worked together to shut down clubs deemed as public nuisances.
And for those who give him grief for bringing up the subject, Flinn said, “I just reject the idea that we can’t even have this discussion, because of all the moralizing that goes into it.”
