On a stroll through the Times Square of today, a visitor can slurp a bowl of gumbo at Bubba Gump Shrimp Company, buy a tube of mascara at Sephora and snap a selfie with a fleet of Elmos.
But if the fever of desire is at hand, it is still possible to find, within a few blocks, all manner of erotica at businesses like the Playpen, Lace and Private Eyes. Despite over 20 years of laws and lawsuits aimed at sanitizing New York City of what are decorously called “adult establishments,” some have endured. This week, an appeals court in Manhattan ruled that they have a legal right to do so.
Such video stores, bookshops and topless dancing clubs are protected by the First Amendment as long as no more than 40 percent of their offerings contain sexual themes, the Appellate Division of State Supreme Court ruled on Tuesday. The legal battle has dragged on for two decades and has pitted the free-speech rights of the businesses against the city’s efforts to keep them from filling up heavily trafficked areas.
“It’s all about free speech and whether you can regulate businesses and the content of those businesses based purely on someone’s animus towards the type of expression being offered there,” said Erica T. Dubno, of Fahringer & Dubno, who represented a coalition of theaters, video stores and bookstores. “But under the First Amendment, you can’t regulate speech without showing some type of harm.”
Nick Paolucci, a spokesman for the city’s Law Department, said the decision was being reviewed.
16 comments:
Part of Times Square history is its seediness. Sex shops are a part of it.
I guess Giuliani-time wasn't that successful.
No one will say it, but the old n.y. sleaziness is part of the tourist allure.
Part of Times Square history is its seediness. Sex shops are a part of it.
Burning crosses is part of the history of many Southern states, too. Just because something happened historically doesn't mean it's intrinsically worth saving.
"Burning crosses is part of the history of many Southern states, too"
That's like comparing apples and oranges, or the carriage horse drivers and nazis (Russell Simmons/NYClASS logic)
So tourists are too lazy to just hop the 7/E/M/F/R train for a short ride to Roosevelt Avenue?
Mayor Beame all over again
Welcome back Carter!
I'm Warren Wilhelm Jr., and I approve of sex shops on every block!
The internet is putting many of these places out of business.
Back to the Bad Old Days, right? Dublaz gets the credit on this and other BS. When he eventually leaves office, the city will look like the Beame/Koch/Dinkins city. Crumbling shit with high crime. Plan now.
How do these places do enough business to afford midtown Manhattan prices when even big chain stores can't make rent? Especially when every perversion imaginable is available on the internet for free.
Hold on a minute, this was a judgement from an old, ongoing case and has nothing to do with the current Mayor.
Most of these places are on borrowed time in that online porno and gentrification rents will kill them anyway.
Hmmm maybe that's the one thing Dublaz did right !!
Let it go back to 1972
I will gladly take any era of the good old Time Square back over this current Disneyland bullshit. The whores, pimps, electronic shops and venders were interesting (much like old Atlantic City of the 60s) Now you have nothing but Yahoos walking (and stopping) 6 abroad to take photos & over priced bullshit. It now cost you $65 to see Ace Frehley at BB Kings or Best buy with (former Nokia)because all the same racketeers rig the dam prices on everything. --$9 for a bottle of bud !!!
I thought that easier availability of products over the Internet and high rents were squeezing these places out of business.
A little history: the 1995 bill which restricted sex shops was written by the late Walter McCaffrey. He was term-limited out of the City Council and was a rival of Joseph Crowley. The text of the law did not contain the "60-40" provision but a study prepared to help draft the law did, and the courts later gave the force of law to the 60-40 rule.
It's worked reasonably well in the Giuliani and Bloomberg era, but heaven knows, now anything goes.
""Part of Times Square history is its seediness. Sex shops are a part of it""
AMEN RIGHT ON !!
Just like Mr.Softee, Redbirds and hot salted pretzels !!
Its what makes New York, New York and part of out heritage (which many would like to erase)
Now you cut & inch your way down Broadway and think your in downtown Tokyo --I friggan hate It!! 3-5 minutes to walk one dam block !!
Anonymous said...
How do these places do enough business to afford midtown Manhattan prices when even big chain stores can't make rent? Especially when every perversion imaginable is available on the internet for free.
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Come again?
Most have a special clientele --as in rich people are weirdos !!
See Stanley Kubrick's "Eyes Wide Shut"
One of these joints is across Company Tavern on Northern blvd Little Neck.
If you go to the bar after all the expensive restaurants close all you see is new BMW, Mercedes pulling up with well dressed dudes & women going inside and coming out with 'little packages"
Get this, many look Persian and leave heading Great Neck and points east. What I find interesting is most the time its the women that go inside and the guys stay in the cars. Drivers for professional prostitutes picking up "requested items" for a call perhaps ?
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