SEATTLE, WA — Most people would be horrified to hear anyone protest the building of new church for fear of its negative community impact, yet many have no problem entertaining the same fears when it comes to adult businesses, including strip clubs. Three motivated Seattle strip clubs has released the results of a study they financed on the issue — and the findings may surprise open-minded industry opponents. According to the study, which reviewed eight years’ worth of police responses to the clubs in question, concluded that “there is no evidence” that the exotic dance establishments were “disproportionately more often the source of police attention” than nearby taverns, convenience markets, or department stores.
In case that wasn’t clear enough, its author’s reiterated that “Crime does not tend to accompany, concentrate around, or be aggravated by these adult businesses.”
Whether this information is compelling or not may be seen in the November 7th election results, since Seattle voters will have the opportunity to set aside currently laws that restrict dancers to a four-foot distance from customers, denies direct tipping, and requires clubs to install bright lighting.
Although the new laws are not yet being enforced, supporters have insisted that they were necessarily to protect the surrounding areas and cut back on presumed police calls to strip clubs. Club owners and free expression supporters have argued that the laws stem from an attempt to legally enforce a moral standard and would result in financial hardship for businesses, their employees, and dancers.
Daniel Linz, a professor of communication and law and society t Universtiy of California, Santa Barbara was responsible for the study, which was conducted at the request of Rick’s in Lake City Déjà Vu near Pike Place Market, and Sands in Ballard strip clubs.
Linz found that the three non-alcohol-serving strip clubs actually had fewer police calls than surrounding bars, which serve alcohol but do not provide erotic entertainment. In fact, Fred Meyer stores had more than three times as many police incidents as Rick’s. The majority of police responses that Rick’s did experience were related to undercover vice inspectors checking to make sure dancers weren’t touching patrons, although budget cuts have caused those visits to decline.
City officials dismiss the study, which they have not yet fully reviewed, claiming it is biased. Deputy Mayor Tim Ceis says, “It kind of reminds me of the tobacco industry hiring consultants to say tobacco was good for you.”
