EAST LOS ANGELES : County Rewriting Adult Business Law

A recent temporary move by the County Board of Supervisors’ to restrict adult businesses in residential neighborhoods did not specifically address a Whittier Boulevard shop that has been the target of protests, but a new county ordinance may put restrictions on it and others.

Attorneys for the county are devising a permanent ordinance that will restrict adult businesses from operating within a certain distance of schools, churches and residential areas, said Carole Thomas-Fajardo, director of field operations for Supervisor Gloria Molina. In the meantime, the protest at Andy’s Adult Books, 4624 E. Whittier Blvd., has dwindled to about five neighbors. Although discouraged by the number of fellow protesters who have dropped out, they vow to continue picketing until the store closes.

“At first the community’s all gung-ho and then they turn their backs on you,” said Martha Cooper, president of the neighborhood group More Advocates for Safer Homes. “We try to tell them, ‘It’s not political. It’s a moral issue,’ ”

The group says they hope the county will eventually hold that store owner Craig Tucker is operating his business without required permits and fine him so much money that the store will be driven out of business.

Tucker did receive a business license, but he maintains that he did not need approval from the County Regional Planning Commission or the Board of Supervisors to open his store.

His attorney, Roger Diamond, could not be reached for comment.

“(The store) opened when this other . . . ordinance was on shaky ground, and he opened without any permits,” said Thomas-Fajardo. If a permanent ordinance is put in place, she said, the store would probably fall under its restrictions when conditional use permits are up for renewal.

The county’s previous ordinance restricting adult businesses from locating within 500 feet of churches and schools was struck down in April and May in decisions by state and federal courts after a topless bar in unincorporated La Puente protested that the law was vague and violated the business owner’s right to operate.

The ordinance now being prepared would also govern hours of operation, signage and public display of merchandise. It would mandate the hiring of security guards. But first, Thomas-Fajardo said, the county must determine whether the proposal would prevent such businesses from operating at all.

“They do have a certain amount of rights to run their business,” she said.

Cooper disagrees.

She and her fellow protesters meet Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays in front of the business to shout to passing drivers about preventing Andy’s and other adult businesses from operating in their community.

Often, she said, they receive insults in return. But Cooper is undaunted.

“Whether the community gets out there or not, I will still be there,” she said. “I live in the community and it affects the children.”