shadowcat for city council?

Care to post the text here? Their site doesn't like the fact that I have scripts blocked; gives me a circular 404 error.

OK george,

County mulls what to do about strip clubs

By DAWN HINSHAW - mailto:[email protected]

E-Mail Print Reprint 37 Comments Text Size:

Three years ago, three strip clubs agreed to a deadline for coming into compliance with Richland County’s zoning laws — by closing, moving or changing their businesses.

That deadline was July 15.

County officials say nothing has happened. Now they need to decide their next move.

Today's news video

Councilman Seth Rose said he won’t be happy until the three — Heartbreakers, Platinum Plus and Chastity’s — either move or close.

Rose said residents along Bush River Road complain about Heartbreakers, in particular, as a sign of decline. “That area used to be a thriving place to be,” he said, “and over time, over the last 10 or 15 years, it has deteriorated.”

Adult businesses are legal in Richland County, but they must be 1,000 feet from churches, schools and homes.

That requirement, developed 20 years ago, made Richland County one of the first in the state to implement special zoning laws for adult businesses such as night clubs, video stores and escort services.

Still, over time, places started creeping in.

Four years ago, the county revised its business-license law and began cracking down on businesses that didn’t comply with county laws.

“Before we could do anything to them, three of them sued us,” Councilman Greg Pearce said. To avoid a legal battle, the county signed a settlement that notes, in part, if the businesses don’t meet the deadline to comply, the county can go to court to close the doors.

“I’m taking a look at what the county’s options are right now,” county attorney Larry Smith said Thursday, declining to discuss it further.

Among those clubs, Heartbreakers is on Bush River Road, Platinum Plus on Jacob Road, and Chastity’s on River Drive, according to listings.

Efforts to reach Tim Rogers, who represents at least two of the three businesses, were unsuccessful.

According to information compiled by the county, the county has licensed 12 sexually oriented businesses and is aware of four others.

Sheriff Leon Lott said his office gets involved with illegal clubs occasionally.

“Someone will open up a location and maybe get a license — or maybe not even get a license — as a club or restaurant and, the next thing we know, it turns into a strip club,” he said. “We’ve dealt with that and successfully been able to close those places down.

“That tends to be our biggest problem, these places popping up all over the place.”

Ann Dawson, who has lived in St. Andrews since 1967, said the adult businesses there detract from neighborhoods that otherwise have a lot going for them.

Whether she’s heading out to shop or go to church — whether her grandchildren are visiting — she has to pass by a club on Bush River Road and a lingerie shop next door that are “so sexually explicit,” she said.

“It’s just in our face,” Dawson said. “I don’t think we should be subjected to it.”

Read more: thestate.com

Hell, it's too hot in Columbia this time of year. I was thinking of coming down this week to join you at PP, but SHEESH !!!! 100 degrees. I'll pass, but if you did run for council let me know, I'll establish residency and vote for you. LOL

Some old biddies aren't happy unless they're ruining somebody's day.

Hey vince, it's hot in Hotlanta too. So I won't notice any difference.

The dumb asses couldn't even get the club names straight. Chastity's was sold back in 2008 and became Savannah's. That was sold back in 2009 and became what it is now, Crush.

Yep, it is very hot down there in the South. It's one of many reasons I enjoy being in my home state in the summer. We are in the hot spot of summer now, but every few days we get a front come through and make it more tolerable.

Don't do it, shadowcat. You might get elected.

I still have nightmares about my stupid drunken foray into county politics last autumn.

I read the article and all of the 40 or so comments following it. Virtually all of the people who commented said the clubs were not the problem and that the city of Columbia should have more important things to do. I suspect the city will try to avoid a lawsuit if they attack these places on unreasonable grounds. I also suspect that if the clubs were in violation of any zoning laws they would have been cited and closed years ago. If the clubs do in fact violate the law, they will have little chance of enforcing it now if they have allowed the violation to continue for 15 years.

Yeah, I read the comments too. They almost sounded like they were written by TUSCLers.

Don't worry Art. I can't meet the residency requirements. LOL.

Seth Rose, most hated councilman in Richland county if he succeeds. He may need to hire bodyguards with this economy if he succeeds in making a lot of people lose their jobs. Hopefully idiots trying to destroy a not in your face business will lose their job first. I've driven right by these clubs trying to find them and missed them more than once. Just think if he succeeds he can go to hell and when he meets Lucifer and Seth asks why he is here, he didn't commit any serious crime. The devil can say, oh, don't you remember when you closed down all those clubs and put all those people out of work for no good reason? I do not like religious prudes making up stories attacking clubs I visit.

In your face clubs? I couldn't even find them when I drove right by them. I guess if you have GPS and the female computer voice says, "Heartbreakers on your right!" It might be in his face. I suggest he turn off his computer and GPS system.

Is Seth a woman or a man? The article says councilman.

Is Seth a woman or a man? The article says councilman.

Isn't there a church right behind Platinum Plus? I vaguely remember seeing it a few years ago when I parked in the lot across the road.

dudeanonymous, I believe you are correct. I vaguely recall seeing a church back there along the road. If shadowcat thinks of it, in the next few days while there to minister to the needs of the dancers, he could let us know.

You are correct.

Platinum Plus 362 Jacob Rd, Columbia, SC29210

Young's Chapel Babtist Church 359 Jacob Rd, Columbia, SC 29210

Don't worry PP closes in time for you to make it to the church on time.

If pussy and prayer could hold hands we could put a lot of lawyers out of work.

I wonder if Seth goes to that church. If that's the case then maybe I should say I park in the church parking lot. Then I walk over to the strip club. I see nothing wrong with it. I've been going to the strip club for years but have yet to see one person ever go in that church. You would think they would have closed that church down already.

If elected president, I will pass a new edict as supreme commander of the US forcing all baptist churches within 5000 feet of a bar, strip club, or school or park to be closed down. It's just too in your face. I mean they have all those phallic steeples on them. At least strip clubs have the decency to keep the sex symbols inside the building.

Good point, sharkhunter, no wonder we get hard ons when we pass a church steeple. LOL

vm,

I am not part of your "we" in THAT statement! :)

Cue the tape from the traffic cameras of Clubber on his bike. :)

Having just returned from visiting the club, I learned that the club is not in jeporady over zoning issues. In fact the strip club was there first. Perhaps we need a law that says you cannot operate a church within 1,000 ft of a strip club.