Ok everyone, the chair of the Land Use committee (Jon Way) has scheduled a special meeting on next Friday at 3:00 to discuss the regulation of sexually oriented businesses. He also distributed a copy of a book from the American Planning Association entitled “everything you always wanted to know about regulating sex business…”.
Hope to see all of you there – especially those of you sending me nasty, self-righteous emails detailing how I’m presiding over the decline of Manassas. This is where the rubber mets the road – the nitty-gritty of actually governing. It’s easy to groove with the crowd and rail against the injustices of the world. Exponentially more difficult to attend meeting after meeting in order to craft regulation that meets constitutional muster and avoids dumb things that will draw legal challenges. I’m confident that if we proceed by the numbers that we can get where we want to go but we must be thoughtful.
September 11, 2010 at 9:26 am
Good luck Andy. As we have seen it’s much easier to throw rocks than it is to effectively deal with an issue. I know you will deal carefully with this as you do not have the luxury of throwing rocks and letting others pick up the pieces.
If the council ultimately chooses to copy ordinances from other jurisdictions, it is important to rely on proven ordinances of other jurisdictions that have survived the test of court challenge. Untested ordinances are a gamble unless they are backed up by truly substantial neutral legal research.
The “legal research” that was presented at the council meeting by the citizen speakers was far from neutral. Rather, it was more like the brief of just one side of the argument. It’s amazing how the brief from just one side can sound so convincing –yet be wrong.
This is absolutely not intended to suggest that the citizens making the arguments were headed in the wrong direction. My point is merely that the council needs to rely on a legal memorandum that relies on the law as it is (and as a judge will see it), not as we wish it is.
September 11, 2010 at 12:41 pm
There are two shops like this one in Alexandria’s historic district. You can try to regulate them and make it difficult for them to open and operate, but it comes back to the fact they are legal.
Here’s an additional view of Tuesday’s meeting:
http://www.tbd.com/blogs/amanda-hess/2010/09/sex-shop-in-manassas-inspires-town-hall-on-dangers-of-pornography-pedophilia-ice-cream-1423.html
As for secondary effects, what has the impact of MVC or Fashion Fantasy been to our community so far?
September 11, 2010 at 6:57 pm
Hey Cindy,
Somehow I don’t think you’d have the same attitude if it was a store you did not like, or say maybe if the KKK opened up a store here in town.
BTW, I like how you keep avoiding question. Do you libs really call baby killing “legal health care access” Really?
September 11, 2010 at 9:09 pm
Hey, Citizen. Can’t you discuss or debate a point without being nasty?
September 12, 2010 at 8:14 am
Who would compare an adult boutique to the KKK? Only someone who gets aroused from hate speech and hate acts it sounds like.
SOB control ? .If I were going to start controlling SOBs in the City, that is not where I would start.
Normal people usually just don’t go in stores they don’t like. They don’t drag out the American Family Association. and that group’s rather narrow, religiously-driven views into policy making.
Is the City of Manassas doing all that well that it can afford a boycott by people who oppose this kind of repression?
What will the next knee jerk reaction be?
September 12, 2010 at 11:34 am
I too send along my support to you, Andy, and the LUC on what will surely be a “Herculean Task”. I chuckled over the title of the APA book, then tipped my hat to Jon for getting them – the APA produces a lot of good material.
Cindy tossed out the question about secondary effects..and even affects. In terms of negatives, have not heard any because of their locations. In terms of positive, there are a couple of ways to look at it.
“once upon a time…”, as a way to lead into past instances, when it came to sexual dysfunctions, therapists would encourage use of “assistive devices” ranging from film to the colloquial term “sex toy” to help an individual or couple. This was, and is still true, with disabled individuals.
MVC in that sense does provide a service to a minority within the population. Cindy also mentioned Fashion Fantasy, and they too provided a means to obtain those items. But this store goes one step further – and as someone who represents this City on Aging & Disability, this “one step further” should be acknowledged.
There is a growing older population – again, a minority – of bisexuals and transgenders. Fashion Fantasy provides consultation in “fashion makeovers”. To those individuals in our area, it is a service which contributes to their feelings of self-worth.
Just another point of view in the discussion on these forms of retail stores.
September 12, 2010 at 11:36 am
Moon,
Just as I thought, you just proved me right, you libs are a piece of work. You don’t mind stores that lead to lower self esteem, lower levels of respect for women, and complain anyone who is not for such stores are closed minded. Yet when it comes to something you disagree with, suddenly, you have an issue with it.
If the KKK opened up a store, it would be just as legal as this other store. So, what’s the problem? Obviously, as you pointed out, “normal people do not go into stores, they do not like”.
Why would you support the right of one store, and call people narrow minded for not liking it, but display the same narrow mindedness you just railed about? Oh,and of course, attacking families and their religion is not being hateful.
I
September 12, 2010 at 1:00 pm
Thank you, Ray. Del. Miller shouted PORN like FIRE in a crowded theater and the trampling began. The Lotus Blooms shop in the historic district of Alexandria was actually started by two critical care nurses.
I have been in Neighborhood Watch three years and have not heard the police talk about adult stores as hot spots for crime. I did a ride along with a police officer when I was accepted into Leadership Prince William and we literally went to every nook and cranny of the 10-mile area of the City and not once did the officer point out MVC or Fashion Fantasy as places to be monitored or to be wary of, and these stores are both less than a mile from my home. Believe me, I was a talky passenger and asked so many questions my jaws hurt by the time the three hours was up. I know my fellow watch members were upset about sex offenders after Alexis Glover went missing from, at the time they thought, Central Library, but the City police and others spent literally hours at the police station conference room calming folks down about where these offenders are housed after they leave jail, and how they are monitored.
I know the police chief was present for the citizen comments after the special meeting last Tuesday. I would really like to hear what the police have to say. I know there is tons of SOB info on the Internet, but it doesn’t look like it’s coming from police sources – more from religious sources.
September 12, 2010 at 4:03 pm
Jennifer Buske’s article in the Washington Post today:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/09/11/AR2010091100068.html
September 12, 2010 at 8:56 pm
A Business Plan for Old Town…to include all stores within the Historic District and those that are on the perimeter.
A thoght to consider as the LUC meets – we have HMI and OTBA working together to promote Old Town. We have the Sector Plan within the greater Comp Plan that lists out what the City’s goals, etc. are.
I am also aware from following Econ Devl/Comm Devl/Land Use Committee that Liz Via-Gossman does present specific redevelopment work going on. I also know she travels to various trade shows promoting the City.
But back to the thought to ponder – is there a Business Plan (with all the appropriate chapters) that says..”ok, we have this vision, this is how we will get there”.
Haven’t even seen one or heard of one, and might be the time to think on it after putting out the current fire.
September 12, 2010 at 9:38 pm
Ihave never heard of a KKK store. What do they sell?
My guess is CoM has never been into an upscale adult boutique. He probably doesn’t think he needs it.
I have attacked no families or their religion. I hope all families practice their religion in their homes and churches and leave their religion out of the public square.
September 13, 2010 at 7:01 pm
Moon,
I guess you don’t pay attention to what your write, or like most libs, simply are so used to hearing from fellow libs the horrible things you say about Christians, that you do not consider what you say to be hateful. Read what you posted again.
I’ve been to Victoria Secret before, and as far as I know they do not have an age limit to enter the store. But, I guess that’s not upscale enough. I don’t know how it can be “upscale” if it has such offensive items that cause it to be age limited.
Moon-howler | Sunday, 12 September 2010 at 8:14 am
Who would compare an adult boutique to the KKK? Only someone who gets aroused from hate speech and hate acts it sounds like.
SOB control ? .If I were going to start controlling SOBs in the City, that is not where I would start.
Normal people usually just don’t go in stores they don’t like. They don’t drag out the American Family Association. and that group’s rather narrow, religiously-driven views into policy making.
Is the City of Manassas doing all that well that it can afford a boycott by people who oppose this kind of repression?
What will the next knee jerk reaction be
September 14, 2010 at 10:47 am
Andy,
I’m glad I had a chance to talk to you after the council meeting last night. I am currently working to cover my home bases for Friday so I can attend the Land Use Committee meeting at 3pm. I am very interested in seeing the committee in action. From our conversation, it seems like you’ve got a few action items to hammer out, but are not going in with no ideas. I hope you will pursue the review of permits and signage and consider bringing in other legal opinions on the next steps. Good luck with all this. We are with you. Please don’t let us down!
JB
September 15, 2010 at 10:04 am
Moonhowler,
Telling people of faith to ” practice their religion in their homes and churches and leave their religion out of the public square” is effectively telling them to shut up. Do you understand that? I’m simply asking because posting comments on this or any other site is at least making a pretense that you’re interested in engaging in a public discussion, so as a practical matter – what is it? Do you want people who oppose this store on moral and religious grounds to shut up or take part in the discussion? BTW, I like your moniker it seems to suit you well.
Andy H. most people I have spoken with in Manassas understand that this has been dumped on the council’s lap and I appreciate all the extra work and time you are putting in to resolve the issue in a way that most Manassas citizens desire. Thank you.