Roman Catholic Bishop Thomas J. Olmstead of the Phoenix Archdiocese, along with a dozen other religious leaders joined together Saturday to endorse Proposition 401 which calls for stiffer regulations for Scottsdale’s two strip clubs, one which is partially owned by Jenna Jameson.
Under Prop. 401, a new 4-foot distance requirement for semi-nude dancers will be required – a restriction which the owners of Babe’s Cabaret and Skin Cabaret say would put them out of business, the East Valley Tribune reported. Jameson owns an interest Babe’s Cabaret.
Eric Borowski, whose son owns the Skin Cabaret said the new rules would ban lap dancing altogether, effectively cutting a major source of income for the club and its dancers who may opt to dance somewhere else.
The measure, if approved, would replace an existing measure that bars nude dancers from touching patrons. Prop. 401, however, would also bar semi-nude dancers from touching patrons. It also requires dancers to cover the lower half of their breasts and their buttocks.
The four-foot distance requirement would also force his club to remove 40 of its 95 seats, further costing the club revenue, Borowski added.
Prop. 401 is the only measure on the Sept. 12 ballot.
Measure proponents have already gone online with their Web site, Yeson401.com and have placed “tens of thousands” of phone calls to Scottsdale voters with a recording of Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas, who says the new restrictions on the clubs are needed to protect public health and safety.
But the No on 401 committee, which is being funded by the two clubs, has also been busy distributing campaign fliers, airing TV commercials and running full-page newspaper ads.
