TMJ4 reports on "adult entertainment" at City Hall.
No, it isn't a retrospective on John Norquist's time in office.
The report is about an adult publication available in the rotunda. No charge.
There’s something naughty inside city hall.
We’re not talking politics. We’re talking about racy material available in the rotunda for free.
As journalists, we fully appreciate our First Amendment right and respect those of others, but one has to question if this material is appropriate inside city hall.
That’s what we wanted to know.
Every day, people browse through the Shepard Express, the Onion, the Community Journal, but this: an adult entertainment publication at city hall?
“It’s disturbing. I think that should be taken somewhere else. Not here. Not the city hall,” one person said.
The pictures inside the paper are so raunchy we can't show you on TV. Nude and semi nude women offer services at cost. It's free and low enough a child could grab one.
The publication is in city hall when city leaders are trying to educate the public about AIDS.
Some alderman didn't even know they were here. Alderman Willie Hines found out months ago and tried to get rid of them.
“I was very shocked and surprised that they were inside city hall,” Hines said.
Turns out the paper's owner has a city permit to be there.
They city couldn't deny the permit because of First Amendment rights.
I get the feeling the City Hall rotunda is going to become a very popular place, an adult-oriented reading room.
The mayor didn't even know about material until we told him. He was not happy and ordered them out. He released this statement: “This publication has no place on the premises.”
He wants to ensure the publication is never again available for distribution within city facilities.
But wait--
How can Barrett order the material off the premises?
What about the First Amendment?
Barrett has no right to purge City Hall of material that offends his sensibilities.
Right?
He can't make the City Hall rotunda a porn-free zone by executive order.
This is America.
2 comments:
Ummm....one question.....the paper's distributor says he had a "city permit". Isn't there certain Aldermen that review such permits and provide approval or is that just for licenses...just wonderin'.....
Good question, Pete.
Someone issued a permit.
Who gave approval for the free adult entertainment to be distributed at city hall?
What did officials know and when did they know it?
Scandalous!
Post a Comment