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Only in Florida...
Bogus bills put price tag on 'Morality'
By JOHN BOZZO
Staff Writer
Last update: December 04, 2004
DAYTONA BEACH -- A bogus property tax bill claiming the city owes X-rated businesses $22 million got residents like Bunnye Smith up in arms on Friday when they checked their mailboxes.
"Don't send me something with a city logo that will frighten me," Smith said.
The official-looking document claimed Smith owed $908 as part of the bogus bill. City officials told her not to worry.
Whoever sent the mailings "ought to be jailed" for scaring senior citizens, resident Everette Hollenbaugh said. He was one of the many residents who called City Hall after receiving the letter.
City Manager Jim Chisholm warned residents not to send money in response to the mailing.
Greg McDole, assistant city attorney, said police are investigating to determine whether the mailing broke any laws.
No one claimed responsibility for the fake certificate entitled "City of Daytona Beach Morality Assessment," which listed phone numbers of city officials.
The mailing claimed $22 million would be the financial cost of enforcing the city's adult business ordinances.
Eight businesses were listed on the bogus document. Representatives from five businesses denied knowledge of the fake document and three others were not available.
Lollipop's Gentleman's Club, Molly Brown's, XTC Adult Supercenter, Club Topic and the Banned Bookstore denied any involvement Friday. Officials from the Shark Lounge, The Pink Pony and Beach Beauty Club were not available for comment.
On Wednesday, the City Commission will consider a legal settlement with two adult nightclubs that would end nude dancing by April 30, 2006 at Molly Brown's II on Seabreeze Boulevard and The Pink Pony on Ridgewood Avenue.
"They would revert to bikini bars at that point," said Gary Edinger, a Gainesville attorney representing Molly Brown's II.
Edinger said Molly Brown's was not involved in the fake certificate. Representatives of The Pink Pony were not available for comment Friday.
The City Commission had set a Jan. 30 deadline to begin enforcing city nudity ordinances after a federal judge ruled in June that the city has enough sites for nude entertainment, which is free speech protected by the Constitution.
Zoning changes made after the lawsuit was filed in 2001 added enough sites for nude entertainment, according to the ruling by U.S. District Judge John Antoon.
The clubs will drop an appeal of that ruling if commissioners approve the settlement. Commissioners plan to consider the settlement at their meeting 7 p.m. on Wednesday at City Hall, 301 S. Ridgewood Ave.
In another ruling on Tuesday, Judge Antoon rejected arguments by Molly Brown's and The Pink Pony to continue nude dancing as existing businesses that do not conform with current city zoning. The clubs opened the separate nude-dancing businesses with soft drinks at their locations after Antoon briefly suspended enforcement of city adult zoning during the legal fight. The clubs also display dancers wearing bikinis and serve alcohol elsewhere at their locations.
Two more federal lawsuits are scheduled for trial in January.
Lollipop's Gentleman's Club on Grandview Avenue is challenging city ordinances prohibiting public nudity and nudity in businesses that sell alcohol. Molly Brown's II would drop out of the Lollipop's case if commissioners approve the settlement. XTC Adult Supercenter on International Speedway Boulevard has another challenge to city zoning rules for adult businesses.
john.bozzo@news-jrnl.com
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Re: Only in Florida...
Wont be the first time people got "bogus mail." But through all of this there have been a few meetings (not Volusia county, Daytona) at city hall in Brevard county were they want Cocoa & Cocoa bch clubs (Brevard) topless only. Merritt Island same. We have one club just got shut down, because of topless dancing, and this was only a night club.
Still poor people, many elderly may very well respond to this letter in the mail.>:(
Pamela