OXNARD : Suit Threatened Over Anti-Porn Proposal

The landlords of Oxnard’s two adult bookstores have threatened to sue the city for lost rent if a proposed ordinance to regulate sexually oriented businesses forces their tenants to close or move.

Several Latino activists also criticized the plan, saying the ordinance would restrict adult businesses to the city’s Latino neighborhoods.

If adopted, the measure--advanced by a council-appointed citizens committee--would limit most adult businesses to industrial areas on the city’s east side.

The litigation threat surfaced during an often-emotional hearing Thursday before the Oxnard Planning Commission, where opponents accused the committee of playing into the hands of a national anti-pornography group.

“This ordinance is a solution for which there is no problem,” said David Brown, an attorney for Mr. K’s bookstore on Hueneme Road, who said the city has had no complaints with the bookstore in 14 years.

Ed and Elaine Gurrola own the building that houses Mr. K’s, and Jerry Fields owns the Vineyard Avenue building that houses Oxnard Book & Video.

Former mayoral candidate Juan Soria criticized the ordinance because it would restrict adult businesses to the city’s east side. “I don’t like that the designated areas are in the poor Mexican areas,” Soria said.

Backers said the measure, which bans adult businesses within 1,000 feet of a church, school, youth facility, park, public building or residence, is needed to protect Oxnard from such side effects of adult businesses as crime and depressed property values.

The hearing was suspended after four hours and will be resumed at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at Oxnard City Hall.