2005/06/15 Council Agenda Packet

Several speakers noted that certain crimes were associated with adult entertainment establish- ments. One speaker, for example, stated that there had been no houses of prostitution in a particular neighborhood for ten years but, subsequent to the opening of a triple -X video store, two houses of prostitution had opened. These illegal establishments have since been closed by the city. Quality -of -life impacts, such as littering, noise, late night operations, offensive signage, and general negative perceptions about neighborhoods or certain streets, were often mentioned as impacts. For example, the not-for-profit operator of an SRO stated that persons loitering near two adult establishments located across the street from the residence have made the street "intimidating," giving it a "different feeling" from that which had existed before the second adult use moved to the street. In other cases, certain impacts such as offensive signage depicting eroticism or sexually -explicit words were noted as especially problematic for children. It was observed that these signs are sometimes located near school bus stops. Most of those testifying identified the impacts of adult entertainment establishments as especially troublesome in residential neighborhoods. Many.noted the problem of adult uses in concentration, and expressed concern about the proliferation of these establishments absent the enactment of controls. In general, those testifying against government regulation of adult entertainment establish- ments disputed the testimony about impacts. For example, testimony was offered that an adult burlesque theater provides 50 percent of the business of the commercial parking lot located across the street from it. Rather than having a negative impact on nearby businesses, it was claimed, the adult establishment brings in business and benefits other businesses. Others stated that the testimony of those proffering impacts from adult establishments was anecdotal. An adult video distributor, alluding to the Chelsea Business Survey, complained of bias in surveys and stated: "The way you phrase a question can determine the reply." Impacts Identified in the Times Square Business Improvement District Study In June 1993, a Times Square Business Improvement District study found that pending city- wide legislation, placing locational restrictions on adult entertainment uses, would remove adult uses from most of the Times Square area; the approximately 40 adult uses presently within the area would only be allowed in small clusters in manufacturing districts to the south 40 EVER00139