UPDATE: The State House Wednesday afternoon approved State Rep. Auden Grogins’ bill. Now it goes to the Senate.
Jennifer Buchanan, Mary-Jane Foster, State Rep. Auden Grogins and City Councilwoman Sue Brannelly are among a coalition of Black Rockers urging local and state legislative support to increase regulation of sexually oriented businesses that attract crime, lower property values and reduce the qualify of life in neighborhoods. A petition drive has been established to pressure legislators to support a bill introduced by Grogins. The Connecticut General Assembly has just a few weeks left to act before the session ends. From the petition drive:
Are you tired of seeing sexually-oriented businesses cropping up all over CT and wondering what can be done about it? Are you afraid to walk or drive by a strip-club for fear of being caught in a parking lot melee or worse, finding yourself in the middle of a gun-fight? Worried that one or more of these establishments will open in your neighborhood and what that might do you to your property values? Ever wonder about what kind of human rights abuses are going on inside one of these establishments?
It’s time, Connecticut, to do something about these “businesses.”
The first of two (2) bills pending at the CT State legislature will make it a CRIME to employ unlicensed massage therapists and will further tighten regulations on illegal massage establishments. The second bill will provide greater protections to municipalities and the state when abating public nuisances such as those found at the state’s strip clubs.
Please sign the attached petition and it will be routed to your representatives at the State legislature. Let your VOICE BE HEARD that Connecticut’s residents want NO PART of supporting these illicit and harmful establishments. Sign the petition supporting HB 5455 (Illegal Massage) and HB 5489 (Nuisance Abatement).
See petition drive here.
Too little too late, this bill is DOA. Maybe next year, Auden? Maybe Sully will bring it back to committee.
*** They’ve been dicking around with this issue for a couple of years now and the only time you hear any new stories on these parlors is during an election year! If there’s any new possible city or state $ revenue to be made from these parlors then you may see some type of regulations implemented; other than that … *** FORGETABOUTIT ***
Any new revenue? Some owe back taxes.
But Mojo, are you saying Auden and Sue are doing this just for election time, or are you referring to the mayor?
*** The Mayor could care less about Black Rock so that means if the glass slipper fits, let them wear it, no? ***
Hey, let’s be optimistic about this. It seems like a train that finally everyone wants to board. Brannelly and Grogins were nowhere a year ago when this first came up in Bridgeport’s City Council but now they are and are working hard–success has a thousand authors–let’s just get this all done. Even the two state bills and the city’s ordinance with increased teeth won’t kill these businesses but it doesn’t mean we shouldn’t try.