Pornography

Indiana Communities Take Offensive Against Sexually-Oriented Businesses

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Pat Centner
AFA Journal staff writer
December 14, 2000

Add South Bend and Mishawaka, Indiana, to the growing list of cities working to protect themselves against increased crime, decreased property values and urban blight that come with sexually-oriented
businesses (SOBs).

Citizens for Community Values (CCV) of Michiana, with the
support of AFA of Indiana, led a battle in South Bend which resulted in some of the most restrictive regulations allowed by the courts to date.

The most noteworthy sections of the ordinance will close all
adult businesses at 10:00 p.m. and force a 10-foot buffer zone between employees and patrons. The law will affect six existing strip bars and the largest adult bookstore in the state.

The day before the vote, over 400 people took to the streets in support of the regulation. A packed house for a city council meeting demonstrated wide-spread community backing. The mayor, the city prosecutor, police department, hundreds of churches, and neighborhood groups all expressed support.

More than 20 people spoke in favor of the ordinance, including David Sherman, who formerly worked as the Midwest regional manager for Deja´ Vu strip clubs. Sherman now travels to hearings when possible to testify about his first-hand experiences in the industry.

CCV and AFA are encouraging other Indiana cities to follow the lead of South Bend and Mishawaka.