The Coalition for Free Expression (COFFE), which is comprised of over 70 video and DVD stores in the five boroughs of New York, is asking for financial help for its legal defense against the city’s new zoning rules that are intended to stamp out adult businesses.
“They’re trying to change the zoning laws in New York to zone out the stores already in existence,” said Allen, who has worked for Model Distributors in New York for over 30 years. “So the Coalition here in New York is looking for contributions to help our legal fund.”
The adult stores in Manhattan formed COFFE over 10 years ago, but due to the recent news of the proposed regulations, it has become more active again.
The strict new zoning rules are now reaching the final stage of a nearly yearlong legal battle. The regulations would establish a "common-sense test" for whether a business qualifies as a sex shop. Peep shows, signs excluding minors, and other features would all qualify a business as a sex shop and subject it to the more stringent regulations.
"What they've done is made it impossible for these guys to stay in business," Herald Price Fahringer, the lawyer for COFFE that is challenging the restrictions in court, told the New York Times in April. "If this law were to be upheld, 85 percent of all the stores would have to close."
Allen, who declined to give his last name for the article, released this statement on behalf of COFFE today:
We as owners of the 60/40 video and DVD stores in the five boroughs of New York are asking for contributions to help us defend against the new zone ordinance the city of New York is attempting to impose on us. We would really appreciate any financial support for our legal defense you can possibly contribute.
Please send checks made payable to C.O.F.F.E. and mail to:
Model Distributors
Attention: Allen
318 W. 39th St.
9th Floor
NYC, NY 10018
