During his time in office, NYC mayor Rudy Giuliani has made a long list of enemies -
cabbies, street vendors, jaywalkers, community gardens...
He's redbaited the transit union, sprayed the city with a low-level nerve agent
and has spurred federal investigations into the massive number of people he's kicked off the
welfare rolls and the brutality of his police force.
But when he messed with sex, he crossed the line.
In 1995, Giuliani got a new zoning law passed that controls where sex stores
can operate. A store is now deemed "adult" if more than 40% of it's merchandise is
"adult-oriented." So, in response, many porn shops have diluted their merchandise to the 60/40
rule by selling children's videos and books
alongside the large plastic reproductions of genitals and tapes of women doing
things only Charlie Sheen and very few others have seen up close.
But of course, Rudy wasn't in it for the morality, as always, it's for the money.
Times Square is prime real estate. When people around the
world think "NYC," they think Times Square. It's in the
heart of the theater district, and soaks up boatloads of tourist
dollars.
This Village Voice article reports that mid-town realtors were involved
in every step of crafting the zoning amendment. The businesses and landlords supporting the amendment knew that it
would be an easy way to increase their property value.
And, much like the homeless, Rudy just pushed the problem out to the outer boroughs.
The Voice reports that "nearly two thirds of the areas where sex shops will be allowed
to operate have median incomes below the citywide average." Not surprising.
Rudy Bares All
Rudy's war against porn
Rudy's campaign HQ?
www.retirerudy.com
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