Sexual Oriented Businesses (SOBs)

[UCAJ CANDO]

Hands Holding Stephanie Update: We, The Universal Church of Angelic Jurisprudence - Community Action Network Downriver Office (UCAJ-CANDO) are currently sending RSVP personal invitations for this event to all 31 senators and representatives from Wayne County, including various other elected officials, and copies of our informal citizen petition to propose new laws with respect to all Sexual Oriented Businesses (SOBs) in the State of Michigan. The proposed laws include but are not limited to the following: Tax revenues from said same industry (Please See information and hyperlinks below) Stephanie’s Law (Registration, licensing, state and federal background checks etc). These petitions will be available for review and signatures beginning February 23-24 from 2:30 – 9 p.m. at our Faith Fest, Winter Exalt, Bethel Assembly of God Church, 2984 Fort Street, Lincoln Park, MI (Please See www.faithfest.net (http://www.faithfest.net/) for more details).
A list of special guest speakers for both events will be available when we receive conformation.

Adult Entertainment Venue Impact Fund; California Taxation; Bill No AB 1551:
Imposes a tax on the gross receipts of an adult entertainment venue in the state at a specified rate. Provides the tax would be collected, administered and enforced in the same manner as the taxes imposed under the Sales and Use Tax Law. Creates the Adult Entertainment Venue Impact Fun to be used to ameliorate the secondary effects of adult entertainment venues. Imposes a tax on the total gross charges for pay-per-view viewing of adult entertainment movies with the moneys to go to the fund.
http://info.sen.ca.gov/pub/07-08/bill/asm/ab_1551-1600/ab_1551_bill_20070410_amended_asm_v98.html (http://info.sen.ca.gov/pub/07-08/bill/asm/ab_1551-1600/ab_1551_bill_20070410_amended_asm_v98.html)

Adult Entertainment Business; Hawaii Consumer Protection; Bill No H 2475:
Requires adult entertainment businesses to pay fee of $3 for each customer who enters the business. Fee to be deposited in domestic violence and sexual assault special fund.
http://www.acenational.org/legislative/2008.01.22.doc (http://www.acenational.org/legislative/2008.01.22.doc)

Taxation of Sexually Explicit Products and Services; Kansas Taxation; Bill No H 2466:
Concerns taxation; imposes an excise tax on certain commercial establishments, businesses and individuals which provide sexually explicit products and services; prescribes certain powers and duties for the director of taxation.
http://www.acenational.org/legislative/2008.01.22.doc (http://www.acenational.org/legislative/2008.01.22.doc)

Liquor Control Act; New Mexico; Bill No S 64:
Relates to business; amends the liquor control act; imposes a fee on customers of sexually oriented businesses; makes an appropriation. A $5 tax per customer for adult clubs.
http://www.acenational.org/legislative/2008.01.22.doc (http://www.acenational.org/legislative/2008.01.22.doc)

Taxes and Privilege; Tennessee Bill No H 2676:
Concerns Taxes and privilege; imposes a privilege tax of $5.00 on each customer entering an adult cabaret or adult oriented establishment that provides live entertainment; the proceeds from such tax shall be used solely for making grants to public and private agencies for victims of sexual abuse and domestic violence.
http://www.acenational.org/legislative/2008.01.22.doc (http://www.acenational.org/legislative/2008.01.22.doc)

Taxes and Privilege; Tennessee Bill No S 2745:
Concerns taxes and privilege; imposes a privilege tax of $5.00 on each customer entering an adult cabaret or adult oriented establishment that provides live entertainment; the proceeds from such tax shall be used solely for making grants to public and private agencies for victims of sexual abuse and domestic violence.
http://www.acenational.org/legislative/2008.01.22.doc (http://www.acenational.org/legislative/2008.01.22.doc)

Excise Tax on Obscene Materials; West Virginia Finance; Bill No H 2161:
Imposing an excise tax on the sale or rental of obscene materials.
http://www.acenational.org/legislative/2008.01.22.doc (http://www.acenational.org/legislative/2008.01.22.doc)

Wednesday, February 06, 2008
AUSTIN, Texas — Lawyers for a group of Texas strip clubs asked a judge Tuesday to declare the state's new $5-per-customer fee unconstitutional. State District Judge Margaret Cooper, who stepped in to hear the case after Judge Lora Livingston recused herself, did not say when she plans to rule. The Legislature created the fee last year to pay for sexual assault prevention programs and health insurance for low-income Texans. It went into effect Jan. 1, and a group of strip clubs has been fighting it, saying it is arbitrary because it does not apply to other sexually oriented businesses. The Texas Entertainment Association Inc. — a group of adult cabarets — and Karpod Inc., the owner of an Amarillo club, sued the state last year. In December, state District Judge Scott Jenkins denied the strip clubs' request for an injunction to delay the fee, which is expected to generate $44 million a year.
http://www.statesman.com/business/content/shared/money/stories/2008/02/0206strip_wc.html (http://www.statesman.com/business/content/shared/money/stories/2008/02/0206strip_wc.html)

Please see the following links for further information:

http://lincolnparkforums.com/showthread.php?p=187727#post187727 (http://lincolnparkforums.com/showthread.php?p=187727#post187727)

http://lincolnparkforums.com/showthread.php?t=15132

[EMUJeff]

There is more happening on this issue than I ever thought. Thanks for the great information.
EMUJeff

[Cherub]

Since this thread is hear I just want to state my own personal opinion for what it's worth

First of all I believe no community needs these types of businesses

There's obviously nothing positive that comes from such a business

If anything these type of businesses bring problems

Now that I've said what I have I'll get to the point

Regardless what kind of business I believe it should ultimately be up to the voters to decide what's allowed and what isn't

[Ashley]

I will reserve my statements untill we are standing tall in Lansing and Washington. Which we will be very soon. God bless all our families. Hands Holding Stephanie is a memorial to her life and also is all of our way of standing up and saying NO MORE DEATHS OF OUR CHILDREN to the SOB'S!!!! My baby girl had a full and promising life ahead of her. She was only here for alittle over 17 years, but she has changed the face of the earth. Thank you to everyone who has gotten involved with us and is standing up to be counted. The dangerous conditions and negative secondary effects in our communities MUST STOP!!! We the People do have the power to move mountians.

[Robin]

What outstanding work that has been done to help our communities deal with the secondary negative effects!!!

I am moving this to the Spotlight to help get the word out!

[Robin]

One thing I want to remind everyone of is that adult businesses tend to multiply like rabbits around one another. In fact there is an adult store that is pending a Certificate of Occupancy by the proposed Hustler Adult business which is located on the north end of Lincoln Park.

This isn't a locale specific issue ---- I suspect that in every city across the state that has one adult business --- there is generally another in the same location and I would be willing to bet that secondary negative effects are a concern.

Adult Business owners have the right to have these businesses but the communities also have the right to safe enjoyment for their families and investments that share the community with adult businesses.

With this type of business comes an enormous responsibility of the owners to ensure that they control the secondary negative effects that are often associated with the line of business. I think that is what is the issue, in my opinion.

My 2 1/2 cents plus inflation.

[Mayday]

This is truly something that will bring the whole city of Lincoln Park down.

[UCAJ CANDO]

:justupdated:Anniversary of teenager's death will bring protestBy Jason Alley, The News-Herald

LINCOLN PARK — The family of an underage nude dancer who died last year of a drug overdose is seeking community support on the one-year anniversary of the teen's death.
On March 16, those who knew Stephanie Michelle Brown are planning a two-hour vigil to bring to light what they call the secondary effects of sexually oriented businesses.
The Lincoln Park Ministerial Association is sponsoring the event, which kicks off near Faith Christian Assembly, 25201 W. Outer Drive, Melvindale.
From 1 to 3 p.m., participants plan to line a 4-square-mile area bounded by Outer Drive, Fort Street, Southfield and Dix-Toledo for the inaugural "Hands Holding Stephanie" event.
That section was chosen because it encompasses all of the current and proposed adult entertainment establishments in Lincoln Park.
To fully line the route, they will need 3,500 people, organizers said.
"We've gotten a lot of responses so far and keep adding more each and every day," said Richard Sands, Brown's grandfather.
Brown, 17, was a nude dancer at the Atlantis Lounge in Lincoln Park, getting the job with a fake identification. The student at RooseveltHigh School in Wyandotte had been working there for only a few days when she met Deleon Alexander II, a former EcorseCommunityHigh School volunteer basketball coach. He promised the teen that he could help her land a better-paying job.
After leaving the club with him and a friend on March 15, 2007, Brown and another dancer ended up less than a quarter mile away in Room No. 9 of the Moon Light Motel in Melvindale.
It was there where the four partied the night away, engaging in sex and snorting a large supply of illegal drugs.
A few hours later, Brown was found unresponsive on the motel room floor. Minutes later, she was pronounced dead of a drug overdose at OakwoodHospital & MedicalCenter in Dearborn.
Prosecutors, determined to hold Alexander responsible for the teen's death, used a new law to convict the 28-year-old Lincoln Park man of delivery of a controlled substance causing death. He was the first person to be convicted in WayneCounty under the 2006 law that holds dealers responsible when their drugs kill someone.
In sentencing Alexander to 11 to 20 years in prison, WayneCounty Circuit Judge Ulysses Boykin said this case "all too graphically illustrates the dangers of illegal drugs" and proves "what drugs have done to our society."
It is those effects from adult entertainment establishments that Brown's friends and families are now trying to fight.
At their event, organizers plan to outline ideas they have on new state laws they hope to have enacted, including background checks for anyone working in the adult entertainment industry and taxing all patrons of adult establishments.
Texas recently introduced a similar law that charges a $5 fee to anyone who frequents a strip club. Clubs are responsible for collecting the money and giving it to the state.
It is estimated that it would generate $44 million a year. The money is earmarked for sexual-assault prevention programs and health care for low-income residents.
Sands said he's been in contact with WayneCounty legislators and is hoping to get a similar bill introduced in the state Legislature. If not, he said, volunteers are gearing up to collect signatures to have a ballot issue put before a statewide vote.
"If these guys have the money to spend on adult entertainment, they certainly can afford to pay into a fund for rape victims and other secondary effects of these establishments," Sands said.
Contact Staff Writer Jason Alley at jalley@heritage.com (%20jalley@heritage.com) or at 1-734-246-0867.
Click here to return to story:
http://www.thenewsherald.com/stories/021008/loc_20080210006.shtml (http://www.thenewsherald.com/stories/021008/loc_20080210006.shtml)

[Robin]

Awesome!!!!!! This is sure to get the word out.

We need to get the Detroit News & Free Press to do a story on this as well!!


KUDOS!!! Well Done!!!

[Robin]

PS: I added this event to the calendars on both sites.

Where can people sign up for this event?

[UCAJ CANDO]

We welcome everyone interested in joining us together in our communities’ public safety, health and welfare awareness event and informal petition drive to propose new state laws on March 16, 2008, in memory of Stephanie Michelle Brown who lost her young life after being preyed upon, like many other unsuspecting teenagers, via the temptation of fast, free and easy money offered by working within Sexual Oriented Businesses (SOBs) that, as a practical matter, appears to provide a natural playground or safe heaven for wannabe or would be criminal entrepreneurs, including but not limited to illegal drug trafficking, prostitution and spreading global STDs victimizing everyone without exception. Please join us today and show your support; email your contact information to me personally at the following addresses should you choose to participate in our communities’ public safety, health and welfare issues concerning this matter. Richard A. Sands, PhD/CDI

rsands@rssinternationalllc.com (rsands@rssinternationalllc.com); revsands@ucajinternational.com (revsands@ucajinternational.com)
Please visit www.rssinternationalllc.com (http://www.rssinternationalllc.com/); and www.ucajinternational.com (http://www.ucajinternational.com/)

[Ashley]

Mountains are being moved all around. Please see attached article, Amsterdam fighting money laundering, human trafficking and abuse in the sex industry.

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5hVkkMim04aScGSIjVOBlN9SRbJqAD8UPILC80 (http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5hVkkMim04aScGSIjVOBlN9SRbJqAD8UPILC80)

[UCAJ CANDO]

Sen Basham invitation‏
From: Dr. Russell Bone (drbone1.lpcoc@sbcglobal.net)

Sent: Fri 2/15/08 12:02 PM

To: Steve Duchene (sduchane@citylp.com); Steve Brown (mayorbrown@wowway.com); Senator Basham (senrbasham@senate.michigan.gov); Richard Sands (rsands01@comcast.net); Rep Wenke (lorencewenke@house.mi.gov); Rep Ward (chrisward@house.mi.gov); Rep Pavlov (phillippavlov@house.mi.gov); Rep Farrah (barbarafarrah@house.mi.gov); Rep Dean (robertdean@house.mi.gov); Rep Clemente (edclemente@house.mi.gov); Pat Bossio (pastorpat@fcausa.org); Pat Bossio (Pat.Bossio@Source4.com); Mayor Vaslo (mayorvaslo@sbcglobal.net); Kevin Thomas (parish@christgoodshepherd.org); John Peck (Peckjd21@aol.com); Joann Dowker (JDowker@senate.michigan.gov); Jeff Heim (raynjoshelton@wowway.com); Jason, Heritage reporter Alley (jalley@heritage.com); Jan WMUZ radio (jan@wmuz.com); Iveory Detroit News Perkins (iveory.perkins@detnews.com); Glenn ch 7 reporter Zimmerman (gzimmerman@wxyz.com); Gerard Cupple (sthenry1923@aol.com); Gary Schippling (pastor@blessedhopechurch.net); Donna Heritage reporter Abramczyk (donna@heritage.com); Dan Russell (dcr1957@sbcglobal.net); Councilwoman Brady (vbrady5554@excite.com); Councilman Myers (mrmyers@tm.net); Councilman Murphy (tamurphy56@yahoo.com); Councilman McPartlin (tcmp11@yahoo.com); Councilman Kandes (mark.kandes@gmail.com); Councilman Disanto (mario.disanto@gmail.com); Christine Ferretti (cferretti@detnews.com); Andrea Cascarilla (acascarilla@senate.michigan.gov); Jack Hickey (leadership@fcausa.org)

February 15, 2008
We are sending out an email announcing that the Lincoln Park Ministerial Association (LPMA) has scheduled a meeting with Senator Basham for Monday February 25, 2008 at Bethel Assembly of God on Fort Street in Lincoln Park (2 blocks south of Champaign) at 12 Noon. This meeting is open to all those that receive the weekly LPMA minutes.

The meeting will cover several issues that may concern area citizens. Senator Basham is planning on discussing the issues (and his efforts) from a state legislative perspective. This would include possible state legislation and Michigan Liquor Control Commission regulations. To that end, the Senator is pursuing bills that would establish a fee on sexual oriented businesses with the revenues going to a domestic violence/ sexual assault fund and also require licensing/background checks on the employees of these businesses.

We will ask the Senator to speak to us concerning the proposed Paplas Drive Strip Club and its possible ramification on our community. We will be asking about any recourse that we have in addressing this issue and ways we can assist our city government.

We hope and pray you may consider attending this important meeting,
The Lincoln Park Ministerial Association

[UCAJ CANDO]

Wayne County news briefs (http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080217/NEWS02/802170665/1001/NEWS)

http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080217/NEWS02/802170665/1001/NEWS (http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080217/NEWS02/802170665/1001/NEWS)

February 17, 2008
INKSTER: Strip club owners face a fee under new agreement
Strip club owners will be paying $8,333 per club to operate their businesses under an updated city ordinance governing such establishments.

City officials had revived a 1977 ordinance that required club entertainers to register and a pay a $250 fee. But the owners of the city's three strip clubs protested. They sued the city in federal court, saying the fee would be too burdensome for the dancers.

Police Chief Gregory Gaskin said the club owners and the city reached an agreement that would pass the annual fee on to club owners. He said the fee helps to offset the cost of law enforcement near the clubs. Compiled by Cecil Angel and Zlati Meyer

[UCAJ CANDO]

LPMA announcement‏

From: Dr. Russell Bone (drbone1.lpcoc@sbcglobal.net)

Sent: Mon 2/18/08 2:21 PM

To: Jack Hickey (leadership@fcausa.org); Andrea Cascarilla (acascarilla@senate.michigan.gov); Christine Ferretti (cferretti@detnews.com); Councilman Disanto (mario.disanto@gmail.com); Councilman Kandes (mark.kandes@gmail.com); Councilman McPartlin (tcmp11@yahoo.com); Councilman Murphy (tamurphy56@yahoo.com); Councilman Myers (mrmyers@tm.net); Councilwoman Brady (vbrady5554@excite.com); Dan Russell (dcr1957@sbcglobal.net); Donna Heritage reporter Abramczyk (donna@heritage.com); Gary Schippling (pastor@blessedhopechurch.net); Gerard Cupple (sthenry1923@aol.com); Glenn ch 7 reporter Zimmerman (gzimmerman@wxyz.com); Iveory Detroit News Perkins (iveory.perkins@detnews.com); Jan WMUZ radio (jan@wmuz.com); Jason, Heritage reporter Alley (jalley@heritage.com); Jeff Heim (raynjoshelton@wowway.com); Joann Dowker (JDowker@senate.michigan.gov); John Peck (Peckjd21@aol.com); Kevin Thomas (parish@christgoodshepherd.org); Mayor Vaslo (mayorvaslo@sbcglobal.net); Pat Bossio (Pat.Bossio@Source4.com); Pat Bossio (pastorpat@fcausa.org); Rep Clemente (edclemente@house.mi.gov); Rep Dean (robertdean@house.mi.gov); Rep Farrah (barbarafarrah@house.mi.gov); Rep Pavlov (phillippavlov@house.mi.gov); Rep Ward (chrisward@house.mi.gov); Rep Wenke (lorencewenke@house.mi.gov); Richard Sands (rsands01@comcast.net); Senator Basham (senrbasham@senate.michigan.gov); Steve Brown (mayorbrown@wowway.com); Steve Duchene (sduchane@citylp.com)

February 18, 2008

Public Media Contacts:

The Lincoln Park Ministerial Association (LPMA) would like to extend a formal invitation to the public media concerning our next scheduled meeting. Our February 25th meeting at the Bethel Assembly of God (located on the west side of Fort Street, 2 blocks south of Champaign) at 12 noon presents Senator Basham to be our featured speaker. He will speak to us concerning ongoing efforts he is spearheading to make an impact on the adult entertainment industry on the state level (Lansing Senatorial Bills) and take questions regarding the local issues of the proposed strip club in the Lincoln Park Paplas Drive effort. You are being informed of the opportunity to interview the Senator and/or the President of the Lincoln Park Ministerial Association. Also, please be advised that there may be a large contingent available for interviews on the City and District levels, as well (City Council, Mayor, and Representatives).

Please be advised that the opportunities (Senator and President of the LPMA) mentioned above will be filled on a first come/first served basis. We will forward these requests through Senator Basham's Chief of Staff. Please email us to arrange some interview time.

The LPMA Communication Committee
Pastor Gary Schippling- Blessed Hope Christian Church (pastor@blessedhopechurch.net)
Dr. Russell Bone- Lincoln Park Church of Christ (drbone1.lpcoc@sbcglobal.net)

[UCAJ CANDO]

:justupdated:Michigan Informal Initiative (SOB) Petition
Online format re: Proposals
PROPOSAL A: State-Wide Secondary Effect Offset Tax Revenue on all Sexual Oriented Businesses (SOBS)
PROPOSAL B: State-Wide Registration, Licensing and Background Checks on all (SOB) Employees and Owners
PROPOSAL C: State-Wide Public Health, Safety and Welfare Standards and Enforcement on all (SOB) Operations
PROPOSAL D: State-Wide Minimum Distance Requirement on all (SOB) Locations (i.e. School, Church or Residence)
PROPOSAL E: State-Wide Questions, Comments, Concerns and/or Additional Suggestions You May Want Our State Legislators to Consider On Issues Regarding (SOBS)
Please Make Your Vote Count Add Comments On Proposals at the following hyperlink…
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/cando (http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/cando)
Hard Copies will be available at the Winter Exalt February 23 and 24, 2008 event…
www.faithfest.net (http://www.faithfest.net/)
Hard Copies will be available at the LPMA meeting February 25, 2008 event…
http://lincolnparkforums.com/showthread.php?t=15581&highlight=lpma (http://lincolnparkforums.com/showthread.php?t=15581&highlight=lpma)
Hard Copies will be available at the March 8th YLP Gathering at Clemente's event…
http://lincolnparkforums.com/showthread.php?t=15930 (http://lincolnparkforums.com/showthread.php?t=15930)
Hard Copies will also be available at the “Hands Holding Stephanie” March 16, 2008 event…
http://lincolnparkforums.com/showthread.php?t=15730&highlight=hands+holding+stephanie (http://lincolnparkforums.com/showthread.php?t=15730&highlight=hands+holding+stephanie)
Hard Copies are also available by requesting said same via email at the following address…
revsands@ucajinternational.com (revsands@ucajinternational.com)
rsands@rssinternationalllc.com (rsands@rssinternationalllc.com)
matt-missy@sbcglobal.net (matt-missy@sbcglobal.net)
ksands63@hotmail.com (ksands63@hotmail.com)

[UCAJ CANDO]

Please be advised that we have received conformation today from Michigan State Rep. Pavlov's scheduling clerk, Megan Richardson, that he will indeed be at the "Hands Holding Stephanie" event at Faith Christian on March 16th., 2008, to express his support regarding our campaign against the (SOBS). We also have indicated that a very special recognition plaque was being presented to State Rep. Pavlov, WayneCountyPros. Walker and Melvindale Det. Taft for their diligent pursuit and continued fight against crime and secondary effects destroying our families, neighborhoods, and communities.
Presented by: Melisa Haines, family and friends of the
UNIVERSALCHURCH OF ANGELIC JURISPRUDENCE
Community Action Network Downriver Office

[UCAJ CANDO]

The Following states/commonwealth is considering a tax on adult entertainment: Tennessee, Pennsylvania, Hawaii, Colorado, Kansas, Florida, South Dakota, West Virginia and New Mexico. Texas has already implemented a $5 per customer tax on adult clubs. Please log on: www.acenational.org (http://www.acenational.org/) to view the most recent 50-state legislative report. Let’s add Michigan to this list, please vote…http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/cando (http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/cando)

[Robin]

Please note that the Lincoln Park City Council will be voting on this resolution:


Special Event Permit #1 be approved for
“Hands Holding Stephanie”
a walk on the public sidewalks of the City of Lincoln Park on March 16, 2008.

There are no cost recovery fees anticipated at this time.
Application fee paid/Application filed. In the event Police Officers are needed for crowd control, applicant will be invoiced after the event.


When: February 25, 2008 during the regular council meeting
Time: Regular Meeting begins at 8:00 p.m.
Where: Lincoln Park City Hall Council Chambers @ 1355 Southfield, Lincoln Park


This is Stephanie Michelle Brown
Born July 28, 1989 and DIED on March 16, 2007
18
-- she will never be a wife --- she will never be a mother --- she can never again be held -- her family will never again share a holiday with her -- Why? Because of the secondary negative effects of Adult Entertainment - Sexual Oriented Businesses.

This is Stephanie Michelle Brown ------ but she could easily be YOUR DAUGHTER, GRANDAUGHTER, SISTER, WIFE, NIECE, AUNT or FRIEND!

18

Help save our children from Sexually Oriented Businesses -- Please join us and show your support for local, state and federal enforcement of public safety, health and welfare issues agains the (SOBs)

[UCAJ CANDO]

Please note that the Lincoln Park City Council will be voting on this resolution:



When: February 25, 2008 during the regular council meeting
Time: Regular Meeting begins at 8:00 p.m.
Where: Lincoln Park City Hall Council Chambers @ 1355 Southfield, Lincoln Park


This is Stephanie Michelle Brown
Born July 28, 1989 and DIED on March 16, 2007
18
-- she will never be a wife --- she will never be a mother --- she can never again be held -- her family will never again share a holiday with her -- Why? Because of the secondary negative effects of Adult Entertainment - Sexual Oriented Businesses.

This is Stephanie Michelle Brown ------ but she could easily be YOUR DAUGHTER, GRANDAUGHTER, SISTER, WIFE, NIECE, AUNT or FRIEND!

18

Help save our children from Sexually Oriented Businesses -- Please join us and show your support for local, state and federal enforcement of public safety, health and welfare issues agains the (SOBs)

We have gratefully obtained the permit as proposed by a unanimous vote...
The support for this event is beyond profound expressions of gratitude, however, your faith and devotion is honored or admired among each and everyone of us who respect your divine understanding of the truth regarding the best interest of all parties concerned with or without their knowledge of said same. Thx Robin and all others involved or engaged in community safety, health and welfare issues...

[UCAJ CANDO]

Lincoln Park Ministerial Association
February 25, 2008
In an effort to keep all parties informed (in the battle to stop the proposed strip club on Papalas Drive), the Public Relations Committee of the Lincoln Park Ministerial Association (president - Pastor John Peck - Bethel Assembly of God and secretary Pat Bossio, Sr - Faith Fellowship Church ) will be crafting an email each week. The purpose of this email will be to update and disseminate information from our weekly meetings. Please contact us if we need to add others to this email listing or you need directions to our meetings. Currently we have included in this communiqué:
*Downriver ministers and church leaders
*Lincoln ParkCity Mayor and Council
*Police Chief
*City Attorney
*State Representatives and Senator
*Heritage Newspaper
*Detroit News and Free Press
*Channel 7 news
*Channel 4 news
*Channel 2 news

*LPMA meeting items discussed:
-Item First – Senator Basham was introduced to the LPMA and others in attendance by John Peck, president of the Lincoln Park Ministerial Association.
The Senator covered several issues that concern area citizens. He discussed the issues (and his efforts) from a state legislative perspective. This would include possible state legislation and Michigan Liquor Control Commission regulations. To that end, the Senator is pursuing bills that would establish a fee on sexual oriented businesses with the revenues going to a domestic violence/ sexual assault fund and also require licensing/background checks on the employees of these businesses and would name them after Stephanie Michelle Brown i.e. Stephanie’s Law. Senator reported on bill requests: local governments are able to require fees charged to the clubs …Strip clubs must pay fees to provide counseling and support for victims of crimes with relation to the harm they do to society (current Hawaii bill).

Please see the following hyperlinks for the rest of the story:
http://lincolnparkforums.com/showthread.php?p=192113#post192113 (http://lincolnparkforums.com/showthread.php?p=192113#post192113)

Blessed be to you and yours Councilman Meyers and all those who are diligently working toward a greater common good for our community…
http://lincolnparkforums.com/showthread.php?t=16000 (http://lincolnparkforums.com/showthread.php?t=16000)

[UCAJ CANDO]

Bills would regulate adult entertainment

By Jason Alley
, The News-Herald

LINCOLN PARK — A state lawmaker said Monday that he intends to introduce two pieces of legislation aimed at adult-based businesses.
Sen. Raymond Basham (D-Taylor) announced the bills at a meeting of the Lincoln Park Ministerial Association. Members of the group have been working for months to block a proposed $4.2 million Larry Flynt Hustler Club from being built in the city.
One of the proposed bills would allow municipalities to adopt an ordinance requiring anyone working at an adult entertainment establishment to obtain a permit from the municipality. That process would allow each municipality to verify the person is of legal age to work in such an establishment and to conduct a background check as well.
The other bill is similar to one being proposed in Hawaii, which would require adult entertainment businesses to pay a $3 fee for each customer who enters the business. The fee would be deposited into a domestic violence and sexual assault fund. The money would be earmarked solely for helping victims of sexual abuse and domestic violence.
If either bill ultimately becomes law, Basham said, he plans to name them after Stephanie Michelle Brown, a 17-year-old Wyandotte girl who worked as a nude dancer at a Lincoln Park club last year before dying of a drug overdose.
"I don't want what happened to her to be in vain," Basham said. "It provides hope, incentive and a number of other things for her family and for myself."
He said he is introducing the bills to "take some profit away from (club owners)" and to force them "to pay for some of the harm they do to society."
The exact wording of the bills is still being worked on and is expected to be completed in a week or two, the senator said.
"If we can give local communities with these types of issues some tools to help them, I think everyone will be better off," he said.
Melissa Haines, the mother of the deceased teenager, was at Monday's meeting when the bills were announced. She said she was touched to know that her daughter's name might one day be on a piece of legislation.
"There's no words to describe how that makes me feel," she said, fighting back tears. "Any laws that help keep children out of (adult clubs) and make it harder for the criminal acts to occur, I'm all for. We're fighting hard."
Brown, a senior at RooseveltHigh School in Wyandotte, had worked as a nude dancer for only a few days at the Atlantis Lounge in Lincoln Park. She got the job by using an older friend's identification.
While working March 15, 2007, Brown met Deleon Alexander II, a former EcorseCommunityHigh School volunteer basketball coach. He promised the teen that he could help her land a better-paying job.
After leaving the club with him and a friend, Brown and another dancer ended up less than a quarter mile away in Room No. 9 of the Moon Light Motel in Melvindale.
While there, the four partied the night away, engaging in sex and snorting a large supply of illegal drugs.
A few hours later, Brown was found unresponsive on the motel room floor. Minutes later, she was pronounced dead of a drug overdose at OakwoodHospital & MedicalCenter in Dearborn.
Alexander was the first person convicted in WayneCounty under a new law that holds dealers responsible when their drugs kill someone.
In sentencing Alexander to 11 to 20 years in prison for delivery of a controlled substance causing death, Wayne County Circuit Judge Ulysses Boykin said this case "all too graphically illustrates the dangers of illegal drugs" and proves "what drugs have done to our society."
The ministers' association and Brown's family are sponsoring an event next month to mark the one-year anniversary of the teen's death.
"Hands Holding Stephanie" will take place from 1 to 3 p.m. March 16 near Faith Christian Assembly, 25201 W. Outer Drive, Melvindale.
Participants plan to line a 4-square-mile area bounded by Outer Drive, Fort Street, Southfield and Dix-Toledo. That section was chosen because it encompasses all of the current and proposed adult entertainment establishments in Lincoln Park.
Basham praised organizers for their work, saying he feels for Brown's family and hopes such an event can be a teaching moment for others.
"Persistence and community involvement does pay off," he said. "It's what builds a good community."
State Rep. Phillip Pavlov (R-St. Clair Twp.) is one of many guest speakers scheduled for next month's event.
He is the legislator who spearheaded the bill to hold drug suppliers responsible when someone dies as a result of those drugs. He said he supports any legislation that can hold "bad guys" accountable.
Pavlov said he supports Brown's family members in their efforts to place stricter regulations on adult establishments.
"The biggest thing is that they're trying to bring some awareness to a tragedy that occurred," Pavlov said.
The ministers' group ended the Monday meeting with a prayer, in which Pastor John Peck prayed that God would intervene and cause "walls to come up" to cause all adult-oriented businesses to close. He asked that the owners would become "hindered in their work" and be forced out of jobs.
Lansing attorney Bradley Shafer, who represents the owners of the proposed Hustler club, was out of town and couldn't be reached for comment.
Contact Staff Writer Jason Alley at jalley@heritage.com (jalley@heritage.com) or at 1-734-246-0867.
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[UCAJ CANDO]

Re: Strip Clubs
[quote=Robin;192311] What is very exciting about this is that I think Lincoln Park is the only municipality that has such an ordinance and what an honor we have to be a pioneer of this proposed State law. That is the Lincoln Park Adult Cabaret Ordinance introduced by Councilwoman Brady & Councilman Murphy. Myers (long before running for council office) provided detailed info from his experiences in California which assisted in the contents of the ordinance. [quote]

Consistent and aggressive enforcement of those enacted ordinances or the lack thereof said same was a key element that failed undeniably, at least in this community, until after the fact; and now we’re praying for open or public awareness regarding newly proposed state-wide laws and/or local ordinances to be used as a means to fight the secondary or adverse effects of every (SOB). However, any and/or all ammunition we may have in our armory is only as good as those willing or able and allowed to use it to win the real war against continuing criminal enterprises. What will it take to convince those in authority, sworn to protect and serve, to forcefully engage the enemy to the full extent of the law for everyone’s public safety, health and welfare in the community?
Like Sen. Raymond Basham said, “Persistence and community involvement does pay off,” further he said. “It’s what builds a good community.” I say herein and now to anyone and everyone reading this, please voice all your concerns about these public safety, health and welfare issues to any and/or all our elected or appointed officials and push it, push it real hard (like the turtles on our local Comcast commercials). We are all in this together and everyone supporting each other in this matter is thereby honored and held in the highest regard with respect…Our efforts will reach national attention...may be even international media exposure!
Richard (Grandfather) Sands



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