SELMA, CA — William Hill is not a happy man. It’s not that his life is necessarily unhappy, but his relationship with quaint Selma, CA is not all that he had hoped. The City Council has labeled his paperwork processing-only escort business office an “adult entertainment business” in order to keep it from opening in a downtown space.Although the service that Hill’s When the Sun Goes Down Entertainment provides is unquestionably of an adult nature, Hill chaffs at having the office that hosts its paperwork and answers the business’ phone calls labeled as an adult business.
Now that the temporary ordinance has been unanimously passed, Hill most relocate his office to the city’s industrial zone, which lies to the south near the Fresno County Sheriff’s substation. Although none of his private dancers will work in the office, Hill will need to apply for an adult business license.
Although other adult industry services were part of the pre-existing ordinance, “escort services” and “adult outcall services” were not included. The urgency ordinance that was passed on January 20th changed that and will last for 45 days and allow When the Sun Goes Down Entertainment to be regulated under laws restricting adult businesses.
During the recent City Council meeting, as many as 60 people attended, with 13 speaking against Hill’s downtown location, insisting that it would harm the area’s image and put children at risk.
Marianne Rodriquez, who owns Kratos Music Center next door to Hill’s current location, presented a petition signed by 500 citizens opposed to the business being allowed to operate from a downtown location.
While nobody spoke in Hill’s defense, the Selma Enterprise indicates that some citizens agreed that his business has a right to exist.
Robert McDaniel went so far as to ask the Council, “Why don’t you try to work with him? Try to talk to him?”
“It’s just blown out of proportion,” observed Hill, who learned from the press that the ordinance had passed. “This is an office to hold all the paperwork. Is there something wrong with holding paperwork for adult entertainers?”
