According to the Tampa Tribune, though Mayor Dick Greco, as promised, quickly signed the controversial ordinance into law, don't expect enforcement of the measure to happen at the same breakneck speed.
"What we're going to do is basically give [adult entertainment businesses] a period to review the ordinance and see how they can comply," Tampa police Lt. Jane Castor said. "Our stance is that the city's not on fire here and that the ordinance doesn't have to be enforced immediately," she said.
Just before 2 a.m. Friday the city council voted unanimously to require adult entertainers to stay at least six feet away from each other and their customers. The ordinance ends lap dances and other sexual contact but doesn't prohibit nude dancing. Customers, dancers or club managers could spend six months in jail or be fined $1,000 for each violation.
Adult businesses had mixed responses to the new law. Mike Ross, a lobbyist for the National Cabaret Association, visited several clubs Friday to offer advice on complying. At Deja Vu, that meant moving tables six feet from the nude dancers on the main stage. Lap dances were still being offered, but the performers were donning beachwear, Ross said.
"The entertainers have been educated about what's going on," Ross said. "Every time there's a shift change, they're holding little classes." Ross said "nobody is throwing in the towel."
At the Mons Venus, however, it was business as usual. Owner Joe Redner said that if his dancers are arrested, he'll go to jail with them, bail them out and hire lawyers. "I'm not going to tell those girls they can't work," Redner said. "Let the police come and tell them."
The council vote came at the end of a meeting that lasted almost 13 hours and drew an estimated 2,000 people to the Tampa Convention Center. It came despite another mass show of vociferous opposition.
Scores of dancers said the city was destroying their livelihoods. Redner said the ordinance will put 85 percent of Mons Venus dancers out of a job. With a 6-foot buffer only 30 people, including 10 dancers, could fit into the club.
"I'm a millionaire,''Redner said. "You can't hurt me. Don't punish my dancers." Tampa lawyer Luke Lirot, who represents Redner and other club owners, said he is exploring potential legal challenges to the law.
News of the council vote sparked a flood of reaction. "We've been getting a lot of calls from dancers about what they can and can't do," said City Attorney James Palermo.
"Tom Donohue of Pittsburgh called The Tampa Tribune to say that he and seven friends have been making annual springtime visits to Tampa for the past four years," the Tribune wrote. "He [Donohoe] said they play golf and go to the Mons Venus and other adult clubs.
"We won't be coming back," Donohue said. "Those places [adult clubs] made it why we came to Tampa." Police and city officials pushed passage of the ordinance as a necessity to stem the spread of sexually transmitted disease, prostitution and other crime. Their arguments and evidence convinced the council.
"Our values are not for sale," said Bob Buckhorn, the council's most-visible proponent of the ordinance. "This is an industry that's gotten out of control." Shawn Harrison said there is illegal activity in the clubs.
"I don't think we are legislating morality here," he said. "What's going on is not the harmless fun that everybody thinks it is." But many of the estimated 160 speakers said lap dancing is nothing more than harmless fun.
As the hearing approached its 12th hour, Lorelei Jackson told council members she was convinced they already made their decision. "I want to take the rest of my three minutes [of speaking time] for a moment of silence for the death of all our civil rights," said Jackson who is also Redner's ex-wife.
Council members debated the ordinance for less than 15 minutes. Midway through their discussion, and before they voted, Redner rose and yelled, "Let's go." A contingent of dancers and their supporters followed him out of the convention center.
