tuscl

Houston's Strip Clubs Hit by New 'Pole Tax'

Friday, October 5, 2012 7:13 AM
The City Council passed an ordinance Wednesday that requires strip clubs to pay a $5-per-visitor fee to help pay for the analysis of biological evidence collected from rape victims in hopes of identifying their attackers. Supporters of the ordinance, which was supported by Mayor Annise Parker and approved on a 14-1 vote, contend that strip clubs should shoulder some of the costs of rape investigations because the establishments can cultivate unhealthy attitudes toward women that can lead to sexual assaults. The fee would also apply to clubs that stage occasional adult entertainment, such as "a wet T-shirt contest or naked sushi contest," according to the ordinance, which states all the revenue is to go toward processing rape kits. In Texas, a state law passed in 2007 already imposes a $5-per-customer charge, dubbed the "pole tax," on strip clubs around the state. Houston clubs now face a double fee. Council member Jack Christie said the strip clubs will survive. "When you look at videos of these clubs and see women putting $5, $10 and $20 dollar bills in their remaining clothing, I don't think a $5 tax will hurt anybody," he said.

16 comments

  • mrrock
    •
    12 years ago
    BS boooo Houston!
  • Papi_Chulo
    •
    12 years ago
    “Supporters of the ordinance … contend that strip clubs should shoulder some of the costs of rape investigations because the establishments can cultivate unhealthy attitudes toward women that can lead to sexual assaults” Please – many will argue the opposite – than SCs provide an outlet for “supposedly” over sexed individuals whom might feel the “uncontrollable” need to rape a woman.
  • Stiletto25
    •
    12 years ago
    This is a ridiculous fee with ridiculous reasoning behind it
  • shadowcat
    •
    12 years ago
    I hate to say it but pole taxes will continue as long as there is nobody willing to fight against them. Lets face it. Who amongst us is willing get go public about our clubbing? And the POLs know that!
  • jc8891
    •
    12 years ago
    They passed the same idiotic law here in Illinois.
  • SofaKing
    •
    12 years ago
    In Illinois, the tax goes into effect January 1, 2013. Will be interesting to see what SCs do during the day, when many clubs have not collected a cover charge until 7:00 or 8:00 p.m.
  • Papi_Chulo
    •
    12 years ago
    ^ Maybe in only applies if they charge a cover?
  • deogol
    •
    12 years ago
    The government will get hooked on that money. Ultimate PLs....
  • Alucard
    •
    12 years ago
    There are ways to recoup and recover.
  • motorhead
    •
    12 years ago
    "because the establishments can cultivate unhealthy attitudes toward women that can lead to sexual assaults" What? It's not the money. Five bucks pales in comparison to what I typically spend. It's this BS attitude that I most strongly object to.
  • Club_Goer_Seattle
    •
    12 years ago
    Government agencies are short on proof and long on conjecture that strip clubs are responsible for rapes. The legislatures that pass these laws don't seem to be aware that rape was around a for long time before strip clubs were.
  • jackslash
    •
    12 years ago
    This is a sin tax, which is popular with those who don't sin and don't have to pay it. Expect every state and city to impose such a tax in the future.
  • Papi_Chulo
    •
    12 years ago
    “Expect every state and city to impose such a tax in the future” Yeah – especially in these economic times.
  • txtittyfan
    •
    12 years ago
    I wonder how much time councilman Christie spent looking at videos to come to his conclusions.
  • georgmicrodong
    •
    12 years ago
    @Club_Goer: "Government agencies are short on proof and long on conjecture that strip clubs are responsible for rapes. The legislatures that pass these laws don't seem to be aware that rape was around a for long time before strip clubs were." They also don't care. It's about power, not safety or helping abused women or anything else. It's about exercising power, and keeping other people controlled.
  • sharkhunter
    •
    12 years ago
    Fortunately many states and cities in the South will hold off on these types of taxes I hope because they won't want a source of income to be coming in from strip clubs. However the state I live in now has a lottery and the same argument against gambling was made for a while. Maybe when someone stops worrying about the source of income and just legalizes gambling casinos and just about everything else to generate revenue, the economy will start booming again and the government won't need to worry about what new tax to impose on the people. For all states using strip clubs for income, I propose they open up brothels (legalize it) and charge a $20 tax for every time they go all the way. If States are going to get into the adult business, they might as well go all the way in.
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