This question could be rephrased as: Is money everything? It isn't, and I would prefer not to live anywhere near a strip club.

The problem you describe isn't strip clubs, it's the ghetto. The other problem is communities that feel the need to regulate morality, trying to run out legit businesses that cause no problems, because of the "undesirable" product they offer. You cited rap artists dropping thousands. You cited problems at clubs that attract mostly black clientele. Strip clubs are businesses, and some are run relatively acceptably and some are not. They should be zoned and regulated to behave so as to not adversely affect their communities, just like any other drinking or entertainment establishment. But they should not all come under assault as a reaction to those that attract the ghetto. And they should not all come under assault as a puritanical assault against sex-related industry. I'm not sure of what I'm more disgusted with: the violence spread by the ghetto culture or our witch-hunt bible belt culture that feels the need to micro-regulate our behavior.

And Brett, there is nothing wrong with a legit business making money; it's called capitalism and its how our economy works. If you prefer to not live near a strip club, that's your prerogative. Don't move next to one or to an area in which the zoning allows one to be built.

Strip clubs are bad period. My uncle owned 2 and drugs are everywhere.
Find me a strip club with no drug activity...Good luck with that !!!
Drinking, drugs and men masturbating in the parking lot. It's seedy and ghetto
and filthy. Screw capitalism on this one !!

I dont understand you move near a strip club then complain about it being there. lol

Agreed. You could say that crime and DUI are a result of bars so shut done all bars and nightclubs. Zoning and making sure these places follow regulations such as crowd control and security can help. I think what would help in rougher neighborhoods is enforcement of loitering laws at locations like liquor stores and gas stations, etc. get the people up to no good off the streets.

Find any late night location where people go and drink and you will find drugs and drinking.

Marc, I don't know that there are that many folks who engage in the "witch hunt" mentality these days. I think most are concerned with the outside behavior of the patrons, who have had too much to drink and take their drunken behavior outside and more worrisome, on the road. I am a woman so don't particularly care for strip clubs simply because they are uninteresting to me. I would prefer that the structures looked a little classier and not so Vegas-y. They should blend in with the surrounding architecture.

I wouldn't want to live near one and I can't imagine anyone who would. No great neighborhood is going to grow around a strip club. And in the end, I can't help but assume that strong neighborhoods (with both desirable housing and successful businesses) are going to be better for the city's economy than a strip club and parking lot and not much else successful around it.

The Pink Pony is located on a side street in a commercial area. I've driven past it many times, day and night, and never seen loitering or anything shifty looking. And, Cheshire Bridge road? Come on -- it's an icon! They should leave it alone. I saw someone recently complaining that the strip clubs on Cheshire Bridge lowered the value of his house. Why would you buy a house near a street that has been the location for strip clubs, bars, and other adult establishments for many years, and then complain about it? I'd rather see an area like Cheshire Bridge where everyone knows what to expect, than random establishments popping up in neighborhood shopping centers.

Metro Atlanta’s exotic and nude clubs generate $240 million annually, more than the city’s three major sports teams combined. If you want to see Atlanta turn into the next Detroit then close all the strip clubs. I think the city needs more strip clubs to bring in more money. If you don't like it don't move near one. BTW, if you drink, smoke, had sex before marriage, etc your opinion on this subject is irrelevant.

Lucy, we live in a state that just granted us the liberty to buy booze on "the Lord's day". Do you really believe that none of the anti-strip-club crowd has morality motives?

The Pink Pony has been around for twenty-ywo years and is world famous and known nattionaly as a premire business in the industry. Conventioners, travelers and many locals elect to visit it. The City Brookhaven has been around for two months. I have never read or heard of any issues with the Pink Pony as far as crime and property values declining becasue of its presennce. The city of Brookhaven has no police department, no EMS or Fire services, no Public Works department, basicly no services established to serve the Citizens of Brookhaven. It is ridiculous and a waste of time and tax payer dollars to see the first order of business for the City Council of Brookhaven is to adopt(attack) the Pink Pony and adopt ordinances thatt will basicly put them out of business. City Council forgets that 55% of the citizens of Brookhaven included(invited) the Pink Pony into their city borders as they way they have existed the last twenty two years. What if someone came to your HOME of twenty-two years and said we by our AUTHORITY dont like you so move away or we put youout of your home. Will someone please tell the seated City Council of Brookhaven get over it, ther are more important issues. otherwise i hope tthePInk Pony sues the heck out of them!!
Earl

As an Atlanta native, i can tell you that while needing to be regulated and zoned correctly, strip clubs are part of our convention and tourism in the city of Atlanta and entertainment venues are part of the attraction whether locals use them or not.

Legalize prostitution and have the brothels next to the police station.... DONE, moving on.

Strip clubs attract a bad element to a community they send a negative message to the young women in that community. Strip clubs promote the message that it is glamorous and profitable to take your clothes off for money and for young girls who may already be confused, encourage them to believe that their value is in their body- for many a beginning to an end. To turn your eyes away with a live and let live mentality is to support sisters, daughters, and mothers getting dollars shoved down their panties and the scummy patrons that go there. It's not just strip clubs, its the drugs, alcohol, prostitution and abuse that are part of their package. To have this kind of filth openly advertised (women as products) encourages men to look at women like this, not just the strippers, but other women too. All money is not good money, whether it benefits the city or not. Whore houses are profitable too, as well as money laundering operations,gambling, and drug trafficking- it doesn't mean they bring a good element to the city and are therefore an asset. Do we really want Atlanta to be a destination for the population that are seeking strip clubs? Isn't that what Vegas is for?

Why do you all spend your time giving credence to this blog - which lacks real journalistic prowess - and that only tries to stir up controversy in our community so they can get hits which only further perpetuates the divide in our community? It really is quite unpalatable. PS, Earl, the City has a Public Works Department, a Community Development Department, and more. Perhaps you should pay a visit here: brookhavenga.gov

Right on Jessica..Well said. Doyle you just spent time on it !! If you don't like
these conversations that lack journalistic prowess best you get going on your own
blog !!!

I think strip clubs are just fine. Strippers choose to work at strip clubs, they make good money, are highly regulated, and really - what they "have to do" is so tame. If I got a tip for every time I got groped in a nightclub, then Id at least have extra money in my pocket. Wow some of the church crowd in on the blog - I guess they are "witnessing".

You assumed church but you should have assumed female.
Men don't get it because the ones who go to strip clubs are pigs !!!!
And yes, pigs are one of the more intelligent mammals but still stupid compared to humans.
I'm sorry but people who frequent strip clubs are not exactly....fill in the blanks.
If it is such a great thing put it down as a hobby on your next job interview!!

Sex sells whether in a strip club or not. Most people patron movies with strong sexual overtones or context. Billboards and ads are dedicated to selling the allure of sexiness. When the moral majority says it cheapens women, ask them How many women have given it away for free or a dream someone told them and are left with nothing to show for it. Women will always remain oppressed when public tries to govern how and what they can do with their own gifts. BTW follow the money... Internet porn racks huge income in atlanta, mainly from the people trying to regulate the sex industry here. Hypocrites!!!

Let's not stop with strip clubs. If I were to follow the thinking of the "moral majority" I would not want my children (or yours) to be able to read the cover of Cosmopolitan in the checkout lines at the supermarkets. "How to get a man in bed" etc...

Your right but...there are different levels of these things.

If your daughter came home with Cosmopolitan vs Dad.. I just got a job at The Pink Pony !!
Bet you would not go visit her on the night she worked !!!

ten. Its cloudy to say which is better. She could follow mainstream, try to attract guys with her sexuality. Get a boyfriend who really only wants sex and sells her a dream (no money). Then gets her pregnant and runs away, not paying any child support and leaving her with the greatest debt. This is more prevalent than you think. The line is the sand is personal to everyone (and quite hypocritical). The problem comes when they try to push on you what the "line" should be. When you force the sex industry underground, you actually increase the crimes associated with them and bring in a far worse element.

Seems reasonable to require regulation for strip clubs and for the exteriors to have to meet the same standards as other businesses. Other than that I do not really understand people trying to force others to follow their personal religious choices or opinions. I guess they could organiuze a group to buy the buildings and not renew the leases, that might work. Or they could just not go to these clubs and let others live their lives.

Crimes and public safety. Then close down North Dekalb Mall while you're at it.

Interesting...I don't think some of you folks have been to Pink Pony. Its a nice adult club compared to some we (girlfriend and I) have been too. Its nice cause the Pink Pony has security officers at the front doors and in the parking lot all the time who ask anyone hanging out in the parking lot to come in or leave because loitering is prohibited. they also don't let anyone in with out ID and check everyone at the door for drugs or weapons (the door guys words) btw we found it to be a nice change compared to other Atlanta clubs cause they are always nice when doing it. Anyway, the place seems safe compared to some of the other places on buford hwy that we've been too. just some of our thoughts on the Pink Pony. Also if for those of you who don't know. My girl friend likes it also. about 10 of us couples go fairly regularly on fridays and saturdays.

“Let your women keep silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak; but they are to be submissive, as the law also says. ‘And if they want to learn something, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is shameful for women to speak in church” (1Cor. 14:34-35).

Romans 14:13 - Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in [his] brother's way.

Close em down.

I am totally fine with strip clubs and legalizing prostitution. Regulate it, tax it and make the owners provide over the top security at the establishments. If their clientele cannot behave then tell customers they are not welcome if they are going to act like bafoons. Alcohol causes people to act like idiots. So are people acting like morons outside of every restaurant, grocery store and bar that sells it? Don't let a few ruin it for everyone else.

Just please, please, please don`t let any of the Dunwoody soccer / tennis moms work at any of them if they open here.

After one summer at the local Dunwoody pool, it was back to apartment swimming for me..eeekkkk!

If we vote to close the strip clubs, we should levy a church tax of $240million per year to make up the difference.

Lucy, to support my point on morality motives, I refer you to the comments by Jessica Sanders.

I for one am tired of the government protecting us from ourselves. This only robs us of our freedoms! If it is immoral or against your religion then don't do it. Don't impose your morality or religious beliefs on everyone else. The world would be such a happier place to live.

It seems to me that most of these attempts to legislate strip clubs out-of-existence are driven by an outdated and misguided judeo-christian philosophy. If there is criminal activity that is associated with these businesses then address them. However, no legislation will rid of a business for which there is a 'market'. Everyone remembers Prohibition. That 'noble' experiment did not last for the same reason.

One issue not discussed above is if new clubs are proposed, should they be geographically restricted to a certain area. Yes they should be regulated, inspected regularly, etc. but why not restrict them to that block where the Pink Pony now exists?An adult entertainment district? How about the police station being located across the street? Now that would send the right message!

Marc - I don't live next to a strip club and I don't want to. That's my point. Can you see through your own pretentiousness long enough to understand this?

I have a question after looking into this some more. Why would our new City even worry about the Pink Pony? I asked a buddy who is a DeKalb Co PD officer who deals with gangs and drugs in and around our new city. He was telling me there are more issues up the street on Buford Hwy with gangs and drugs and what not (the apartments behind QT) He said there is a Heroin Rehab half way house in some Apartments on Buford Hwy and was talking about the MS13 gang members all over the place. So Why is the Pink Pony even an issue? The Pink Pony has been there for 20+ years. Has legally operated as a business with in DeKalb co. Why shouldn't it be the same way for Brookhaven. I went by last night and checked it out AGAIN (I got fairly regularly). They have security officer and a valet. I saw cameras and the place is well lit. The only people out side were a few cab drivers waiting around for fares. When I left the place I was offered a cab ride (I didn't need it). I guess my point is why are we as a new city messing with this. I bet it has too do with some lawyer looking to make a buck cause he knows a adult club will fight this tooth and nail. It's just going to cost us a boat ton of money in legal fees and some jack ass lawyer is going to get rich on our new city. We need to focus on getting city services up and running. License them and tax them we need it as do most governments now days.

I've heard about gangs and crime in the schools... a lot of the time the news doesn't report that. I wonder why? The number of illegal aliens and shady businesses in Brookhaven is astounding! I wonder why they are going after a legal establishment of 20 plus years? Obviously an agenda exists where some people will see large money kickbacks from attorneys that go around the country inciting a non-existent fear at the expense of us taxpayers, meanwhile turning their nose at the real violent crime-ridden areas. If you can't see this charade you don't deserve to know the truth.

Jimmie,
Why do you say that those that visit such establishments are a 'blight on society'? Support your position - or don't give it voice. I guess all those football players, basketball players, businessmen, and yes, regular folks are blights?

Malo periculosam, libertatem quam quietam servitutem. - Thomas Jefferson

I, thankfully, live just outside the new city of Brookhaven. I'm fascinated by the city's attack on the Pink Pony given that its founders chose to include the strip on the east side of Buford Highway running north to Clairmont specifically for the taxes the businesses in it will generate. I like the concept of including the location of the business in your shiny new city and then telling the business that it isn't shiny enough for your tastes.