For 18 long months, the city of Providence, R.I. refused to issue business licenses to applicants who want to offer adult entertainment. A recent decision by a federal district court is about to change all that. \n The federal court, in D'Ambra v. City of Providence, said the city can not simply refuse to issue licenses. That would give the Board of Licenses "unbridled power" and violate First Amendment rights to free expression. \n As a result, Dennis D'Ambra soon will be licensed to run a non-alcoholic nude dancing club in Providence. It is what the court has ordered, said Kevin McHugh, assistant city solicitor. \n The ban was issued in early 1997 after investigations by the city uncovered incidents of prostitution at other adult entertainment clubs. The incidents initially were reported in September 1996 and additional problems were found two months later. \n D'Ambra's application for a license in March 1997 was rejected by the Board of Licenses, which announced it had started a ban on all adult entertainment licenses. \n Judge Ronald R. Lagueux ruled the ban was illegal because it did not have a time limit. City officials are not free to impose indefinite bans, he said. \n He cited a U.S. Supreme Court decision in 1990 in which the high court said that an indefinite ban "creates the risk of indefinitely suppressing permissible speech." \n The city solicitor said Providence will not appeal the decision because the city believes it is protected by other ordinances, particularly a zoning law which limits where adult entertainment can be offered.
All models were at least 18 years old at the time of their performance. 18 U.S.C. 2257 Record-Keeping Requirements Compliance Statement.
