WaPo Takes Really Close Look at Giuliani Record on Closing Adult Businesses

Photo of Ken Shepherd.
By Ken Shepherd (Bio | Archive)
January 29, 2008 - 15:19 ET

The Washington Post is paying due diligence to one of Republican presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani's accomplishments as mayor of the Big Apple: cleaning up 42nd Street from its seedy adult-oriented businesses.

Ah, but the adult video stores and strip clubs just moved a few blocks over, the Washington Post's Keith B. Richburg reminds us in his January 29 article. Richburg made sure he took an inside look at the matter, interviewing an exotic dancer while she was, uh, working:

At Lace, a strip club where topless young women offer private lap dances for $20 per song, most of the dancers seemed oblivious to the notion that the former mayor claims to have to rid Times Square of adult entertainment.

"In one sense, it's good," said Mia, a 22-year-old dyed-blond dancer from Belarus, pausing between songs while gyrating topless on a customer's lap. "If there are fewer clubs, then there's more money for us."

No word on who that customer was or how generous the Post's expense account policy is.


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Penetrating exposes

January 29, 2008 - 15:28 ET by KC Mulville

For his next article, he's debating between a thorough review of "A Week in Disney World" or "Parisian Restaurants: Are They Really That Good?" Then he'll have to file a boring report on Playboy Bunnies.

Research is such a bore.

Strip Clubs

January 29, 2008 - 15:29 ET by allanf

Guilianstook the seedy Times Square area and completely revitalized it.  It was full of peep shows, adult book stores, prostitutes and sleeze.

So what about this does the Washington Post object to?

Strip Clubs

January 29, 2008 - 15:29 ET by allanf

Guilianstook the seedy Times Square area and completely revitalized it.  It was full of peep shows, adult book stores, prostitutes and sleeze.

So what about this does the Washington Post object to?

If he wasn't that um

January 29, 2008 - 15:35 ET by Conservative in the Arts

If he wasn't that um "customer", I wonder if the the guy asked for a discount since she was distracted by this reporter asking her all these questions, and all.......

"hey, I payed the 20 bucks here, not him!"

I guess Giuliani has the

January 29, 2008 - 15:53 ET by Hero Squad

I guess Giuliani has the Belarus exotic dancer vote locked down.

And I know not everyone will see it this way, but isn't there a slight difference between an exotic dancing establishment zoned in a particular area, and a bevy of peep show-type establishments that tended to be less discreet about the wares they were peddling? 

*****

"People only insist that a debate stop when they are afraid of what might be learned if it continues." - George Will 

at least Giuliani

January 29, 2008 - 15:54 ET by jwm45

at least Giuliani accomplished something. why doesn't the wapo dig into Obama's long list of accomplishments ?  oh  right  there aren't very many

Obama doesn't need any

January 29, 2008 - 17:38 ET by motherbelt

Obama doesn't need any accomplishments. Ted Kennedy said he's the heir to Camelot.

Times Square

January 29, 2008 - 16:56 ET by easygoer

At least they still have lap dancing in NYC. It's outlawed in DC(that's what the girls at Camelot told me)

Times Square has become a bit too antiseptic for my taste but its far better than the absolute pigsty it was from the late sixties up until Giuliani time.....er,make that admininistration.

A joke of an issue...this is a capitolistic society right?

January 29, 2008 - 17:31 ET by NavyBuckeye

I for one find this a non issue. Adult enterainment is just that, entertainment for adults. I am conservative but all for strip clubs and pornography(the 18+ age type). I know for most conservatives this is taboo and wrong according to thier religous beliefs. But I am of the- it's your eyes you make the decision-mold. No one held a gun tho the women and men who participate and make the movies or dance in the clubs. This writer is obviously trying to play on the values of conservatives here when this is not a value issue. It is a freedom of choice issue.

 Granted this article is more focused on zoning I believe.....regardless each of us as an individual has the right to go into or not go into one of these establishments. I really have a problem when others try to force thier idea of right an wrong on to others. But I also believe there is a time and place for such a thing.

 And if people think porn or this type of place is disgusting you might be one of the closet enjoyers. This business isn't the biggest in the country because no one watches or enjoys it. It has to be the opposite to amass billions upon billions in revenue. Imagine if that industry was completely outlawed(not only a Constitutional infraction) but it could cripple our economy very badly.   

If everyone that claimed to be victim on a daily baisis donated a dollar to the ending of the deficit, it would be irradicated rather quickly.

Sensationalism, anyone????

January 29, 2008 - 17:36 ET by motherbelt

That's disgusting.

'Nuff said.