Goodman says hands off new rules for exotic dancers

Judy Odierna

Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2003 | 11:20 a.m.

Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman came to the aid of local strippers once again.

Goodman told a City Council recommending committee on Monday that he opposed any kind of regulation against dancers within the city.

"My position is that we are doing just fine as we are," he said. "We don't want to get involved in the same silliness that the county is involved in."

The committee, made up of Councilmen Lawrence Weekly and Michael Mack, tabled the item indefinitely until all industry representatives and the city could come to a consensus.

In August, Goodman had said that he hoped the Clark County Commission's decision to restrict lap dances would mean more business for strip clubs within the city limits. Goodman also vowed that as long as he was mayor, a similar ordinance limiting the amount of touching during lap dances would never be adopted by the city.

While the proposed ordinance didn't make any restrictions to lap dancing, it did classify dancers as independent contractors and would switch them from a work card system to business licenses. The dancers would have to pay $150 annually for the license and an additional $50 to $75 for a background check by Metro Police.

The proposed rate could generate an additional $150,000 to $750,000 for the city, officials have said.

Jim Difiore, manager of the city's Finance and Business Services Department, said the money would be used to offset the cost of inspection officers who would make sure dancers follow city codes limiting sexually oriented touching between dancers and patrons.

The additional fees coupled with language in the ordinance that would deny a license to a dancer who has committed a crime, and language that exempts adult entertainment dancers in casinos from having to get licenses as well, enraged some of the strippers in the industry and caught the attention of the American Civil Liberties Union.

"No one with a straight face can claim that (not regulating casinos) is not political," said Gary Peck, executive director of the ACLU Nevada. "It's a purely political move designed to favor the casinos. That would not withstand a legal challenge."

Even some of the club owners who originally favored the ordinance because they felt it would help eliminate problem dancers had some concerns upon further review.

Dean Patti, attorney for Crazy Horse Too, said they were concerned with language in the ordinance that would place accountability measures on the clubs rather than the dancers, as well as other concerns regarding the fees and the time frame in which licenses would be issued.

Patti also said he had hoped Clark County would have devised the same kind of system.

"It was supposed to be done in conjunction with the county," he said. "When you just do it to the city, the girls will simply leave the city establishments and go to the county. You are hurting your own business."