Adult-oriented businesses within the city limits so now must brace for major
changes to their business model.
The six-foot rule states that nude or semi-nude dancers must be six feet back
from customers, thus eliminating the controversial lap dance.
Another aspect of the ordinance is aimed at adult video stores. The adopted
rule now requires designating an employee to be responsible for monitoring all
theater activity.
Adult Video Warehouse (AVW) manager Lee Wilson tells ABC-7, "If people can't go
someplace in private, they're going to go somewhere else ... If they're not
here in a controlled environment, they're going to be on the street or a back
alley, parking lot ... Who knows where?"
San Antonio-based attorney Jim Deegear represents Tequila Sunrise who tells
ABC-7 the city can expect a legal battle should the 'six foot rule' become law.
Deegear says, "If they pass this tomorrow, they can expect to be
sued...absolutely, I think we'll be back in Federal Court fairly quickly and
the City of El Paso will learn about the joys of the First Amendment."
AVW manager Wilson agrees, "The city is probably going to spend money in order
to defend this case and at the end of the day, if they lose this case, they
will be paying legal fees to my clients as well as any damages my clients
incur."
Mayor John Cook, who calls this new ordinance a passion of his, essentially
says 'bring it on.'
Cook tells ABC-7, "This is America, anybody can sue anybody...but suing and
winning are two different things."
