An adult bookstore that recently received approval for a permit from the Planning Commission is now facing a new challenge after a councilwoman vowed to stop the shop from opening in the downtown area.
According to KFSN-TV, the unnamed bookstore, which the commission said met all city criteria for opening, must now face Councilwoman Cynthia Sterling’s bid to keep it out of the city.
Sterling said that even though the store is not within 1,000 feet of homes, schools and other public facilities as required by law, it would attract crime and other problems to the city’s downtown.
Sterling said the store would only add to downtown Fresno’s already bad reputation with its homeless problem, gangs, prostitution and drug activity. An adult book store would also interfere with the city’s plans to redevelop Chinatown, the Armenian Town Project and perhaps the South Stadium project nearby.
The issue will next go before the City Council where a proposed moratorium on adult businesses will be discussed.
