VIP General Manager: “What did they expect?”
Tuesday evening, the day news was released about AG Blumenthal filing an “Amicus Curiae” about the VIP lawsuit against the town of Berlin, a news crew from channel 8 showed up at my door, asking for a response to the news. One of the reporters questions was did I think we would win in court now that the state was involved. I answered something to the effect that while I was feeling pretty confident, I would never want to be arrogant and say I was sure we would win.
Later, when watching the broadcast, I was appalled to see VIP general manager Gary Porter spouting off a comment that went something like “These people need to get real. They bought homes on the Berlin Turnpike… What did they expect?”
First of all, we don’t live ON the Berlin Turnpike, and neither is the entrance to the VIP parking lot on the Berlin Turnpike. I live on a residential side street that meets the Berlin Turnpike, leading into an entire neighborhood of streets. Even if I DID own a house on the Berlin Turnpike, were we supposed to EXPECT a 15,000 sq. ft. porn shop, and welcome it to the neighborhood? I will grant that the Berlin Turnpike is a commercial road, but there are many areas of this road, like shopping plazas, that do not come within 250′ of residential areas. There is ONE strip club, Centerfolds, which is in Berlin on the Berlin Tnpk., and ONE very, very small adult video store in Berlin on the Berlin Tnpk. Other clubs are located several miles down the pike in Meriden, and The Gentleman’s club in Newington. All of which I believe are not abutting residential property.
Mr. Porter is not the brightest bulb in the pack…
Here are a couple more gems he’s given the media:
From the New Britain Herald 11/17/06
“We’ll be helping the community, maybe not Berlin, but surrounding communities,” Porter said jokingly, “community service is what we’re all about.” and, the definition of sex positive is “a nice way of saying adult material aides.”
From WTNH 11/1/06
“We keep all our stores low profile,” says Gary Porter, VIP.
(See pic or store at post titled “Manchester VIP Experience”)
Porter also told the Hartford Courant 1/27/07
Porter genially called the cease-and-desist order part of “the minor hurdles, the bump and grind.” He also said that neighbors have been “harassing” them through phone calls to the police.
I made one call to report a tractor trailer was being unloaded at the back of the store 2 days after they illegally put up signs and were being issued a cease and desist order.
Porter has continually made ridiculous remarks to the media. I actually thing we, the neighbors, have been pretty restrained. For example, none of us said anything to the media about owner Dominick DeMartino also owning the Chef’s Equipment Emporium in Wallingford, because we have hoped he would decide to put a Chef’s in the Berlin location instead of VIP. I even sent Silver a letter suggesting that we would welcome Chef’s. After several attempts to interview the owner failed, the Berlin Citizen did give a brief mention of this.
Some people might not want to give their business to people who promote pornography. What do you expect? “When you lie down with dogs, you get fleas.”
Attorney General files Amicus Curiae
I am pleased the the Connecticut Attorney General, Richard Blumenthal, has filed an “Amicus Curiae,” or “Friend of the Court” brief in U.S. District court regarding the lawsuit VIP has brought against the Town of Berlin.
Blumenthal said he would do this at our meeting on February 8th, and he was true to his word.
According to the Brittanica Encyclopedia, Amicus Curiae is One who assists a court by furnishing information or advice regarding questions of law or fact. A person (or other entity, such as a state government) who is not a party to a particular lawsuit but nevertheless has a strong interest in it may be allowed, by leave of the court, to file an amicus curiae brief, a statement of particular views on the subject matter of the lawsuit. Such briefs are often filed in cases involving public-interest matters (e.g., entitlement programs, consumer protection, civil rights).
Here is a press release from the AG office:
TUESDAY, MARCH 20, 2007
ATTORNEY GENERAL ASKS COURT TO UPHOLD RIGHT TO REGULATE SEXUALLY ORIENTED BUSINESSES
Attorney General Richard Blumenthal today asked a federal court to uphold the rights of municipalities to regulate sexually oriented businesses within their borders.
Blumenthal sided with Berlin, which is fighting VIP – a sexually oriented store chain – seeking a permit to open a store in that town. VIP is suing Berlin for refusing the permit. Under its Sexually Oriented Business Ordinance, Berlin prohibits such stores from operating within 250 feet from any residentially zoned land, as VIP is proposing.
Blumenthal said this case is significant because it threatens not only Berlin, but towns and cities statewide that have enacted similar ordinances involving sexually oriented businesses. Those municipalities include Ansonia, Branford, Bristol, Cromwell, Ellington, Enfield, Fairfield, Griswold, Hartford, Mansfield, Meriden, Rocky Hill, Seymour, Southington, South Windsor, West Hartford and Wethersfield.
In an amicus brief filed in U.S. District Court, Blumenthal said courts across the nation – including the U.S. Supreme Court – have upheld ordinances regulating sexually oriented businesses based on evidence of their adverse secondary effects.
The adverse effects of sexually oriented businesses are well documented, showing increased crime, especially sex-related crimes, reduced property values, the deterioration of neighboring businesses, and a lower quality of life for residents in the surrounding area, Blumenthal said.
“Berlin is the battleground – a test case for town authority statewide – to regulate such businesses within their borders,” Blumenthal said. “Across the state, cities and towns face proliferating sexually oriented businesses, including adult bookstores, adult theaters, massage parlors, and facilities featuring live nude entertainment.
“In every town and every fight involving these businesses the goal is the same – to protect citizens from the adverse secondary effects of sexually oriented businesses, including increased crime, lowered property values, and a deterioration of the neighborhood.
“Upholding the right to regulate sexually oriented businesses is not only consistent with the First Amendment, but ensures that cities and towns statewide will have authority to enforce ordinances that protect the health and safety of their citizens and quality of life.”
Berlin Mayor Adam Salina said, “The residents of Berlin greatly appreciate the assistance of the Attorney General in this vitally important fight to maintain the quality of life in our town. Berlin will continue its fight, in partnership with the Attorney General.”
Many communities fighting SOB’s
Communities all across the United States are fighting back against sexually oriented businesses, particularly mega-porn stores that argue that they are “take-out” stores, and that SOB ordinances don’t apply to them.
I’m pleased to point out some recent court rulings upholding a community’s right to regulate and zone these businesses:
Indiana adult entertainment business ordered to close “Adult businesses have not been denied a reasonable opportunity to open and operate. The regulations restricting operations within 1,000 feet of a residence are valid.”
These were brought to my attention by other bloggers I have networked with who are fighting the same battle.
Keep John’s Creek Safe is fighting a porn shop in Georgia.
My friends at NoPornNorthampton.org are fighting to keep an adult video store out of their neighborhood in Northampton, MA. Now, Northampton, for anyone not familiar, is possibly 2nd only to San Francisco as far as being a tolerant, liberal community. It is also home to Smith College and nearby to several other colleges. Not the easiest place to launch a fight against porn, whose fans view themselves as being “liberal” and pronounce you “prudish” and repressed if you threaten to their “1st Amendment-given right” to sexual expression.
It’s funny, but I have always considered myself to be pretty liberal-minded, politically speaking. When did “liberal” start equating with “nothing is immoral” and “anything goes, no matter how harmful?”
For all those “progressive” thinkers who will ask “how is porn harmful?” check out One Angry Girl.
I am lucky to have many neighbors and others in town who are working together. And networking with others on the internet helps us all to find resources and encouragement.
I say, when your “right” to porn interferes with MY right to raise my child in a porn-free neighborhood, that is something to fight about.
Yet ANOTHER Mega-Porn store in CT?
My husband had occasion to drive out towards Danbury this morning. When he got home, he mentioned seeing a billboard on I-84 west bound, near Waterbury, for yet another “adult” themed store. He thinks it was called “In The Mood.”
Just how many of these places does the state of Connecticut need? And how many billboards advertising these sex shops are necessary? Driving through Connecticut, one might get the impression that the only businesses we have are huge porn shops. It’s not a very big state. At some point, won’t the market get saturated, and after a while, won’t the “novelty” wear off?
It’s not like porn and “adult” products aren’t abundantly available on the internet, or pay-per-view on cable TV… even CVS sells newly marketed “lubricants,” etc. Do we really need 15,000 sq. ft. sex-themed stores in every town? Open until 2:00am?
The adult industry would like us to think that the demand is that great. “If we build it, they will come.” No pun intended.
If communities don’t want this to happen, people are going to have to speak up and fight, because they are not going to go away if people remain silent.
I was pleased to read a post at the NoPornNorthampton blog about communities putting up anti-porn billboards. It’s expensive, and the adult businesses have alot more money to spread their message.
The only way to stop the spread of these stores is to not give them any business. If you don’t go, they won’t build them.
Call me a “prude” if you want
American Heritage Dictionary:
prude (prūd) n.
One who is excessively concerned with being or appearing to be proper, modest, or righteous.
[French, short for prude femme, virtuous woman : Old French prude, feminine of prud, virtuous; see proud + French femme, woman (from Latin fēmina; see feminine).]
Wikipedia wiktionary:
prude (plural prudes)
A person who is or tries to be excessively proper, especially one who is easily offended by matters of a sexual nature.
I have at times been called a prude, sexually repressed, told to “get a life,” etc. All because I don’t want a 15,000 sq. ft. adult mega-store to locate next door (abutting property) to my family’s home.
I wonder how these same sexually enlightened people would feel if it was their home that was going to see property values depreciate, their neighborhood that was going to be the “home” of one of these stores they love so much.
This is a personal blog, and I admit that I have a biased view, and this blog is written for the benefit of my neighbors to keep them informed as to what is happening with our fight against a sexually oriented business locating in our neighborhood. This is not a public forum trying to present “fair and balanced” information. While I have posted all comments that have been submitted (thus far,) I feel no obligation to “see things from the other side.”
If someone has views to the contrary, that is their right. If someone feels equally “pro-sexually oriented businesses opening less than 250′ from residential property,” or some other “pro-SOB” stance, that is also their right. I think they should start their own blog on the subject, like this person has. They could get space here at wordpress.com… It’s FREE!
That’s the great thing about blogs. I can get my information and/or opinion out to like-minded individuals. It is my hope that this blog is not only helpful to my neighbors, but to other people who are fighting SOB’s throughout the country (and there are many.)
I am not protesting against porn specifically (I personally find most of it degrades & objectifies women, and discourages real intimacy for men, but that’s just MY opinion) The porn industry is just too big for this forum. But I do feel empowered to fight for the right to not have it sold just outside my window until 2:00am! I am NOT easily offended by matters of a sexual nature. I am offended by matters of an offensive nature! If this makes me a prude, then I guess I’m a prude.
If you don’t understand why I would feel this way, have I got the perfect house for you…
