DOWNEY : 45-Day Ban Imposed on Adult Businesses
The City Council has issued a 45-day ban on adult-business licenses.
The emergency moratorium, which took effect April 25, will allow the city to update existing laws concerning adult bookstores, nude dancing establishments and other adult businesses. The city law, which was last revised in 1978, allows these establishments only in the downtown commercial district.
“If the regulations are as old as they are, it’s certainly time to take a review,” said Councilwoman Diane P. Boggs.
The only businesses in the city that qualify as “adult” are one or two massage parlors, said Lee Powell, assistant city manager. The temporary ban won’t affect those businesses.
City staff brought the issue before the council after receiving inquiries from people interested in offering adult entertainment in Downey, said Ron Yoshiki, assistant director of community development. One person inquired about offering exotic dancing, and another expressed interest in opening a bar with “scantily clad” waitresses, Yoshiki said.
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