SIMI VALLEY : Anti-Pornography Week OKd by City

A Simi Valley citizens group persuaded the City Council on Monday to declare Nov. 1-7 as Pornography Awareness Week.

The move was pushed by Steve Frank, a state Assembly candidate and head of Simi Citizens R Against Pornography, which made its name trying to stymie development of a nude dance club in the city.

Declaring that there are “many individuals and families who believe pornography does not respect any individual and may translate into violence upon innocent victims,” the proclamation says the awareness week is necessary “to encourage citizens to become aware of the effects of pornography on people of all ages and to become involved in promoting positive activities and values within our community.”

“It shows that the leadership of this community--in this case the City Council--recognizes the detrimental effects on men, women and children of pornography,” Frank said Monday in an interview.

Frank said the Simi Valley anti-pornography group has already gathered 6,500 signatures and hopes to garner 3,500 more on an anti-pornography petition to give to the City Council whenever it considers the dance club’s development application.

The group also is asking members to write anti-pornography letters to the editors of local newspapers, and is pleading with Simi Valley ministers to sermonize against smut this Sunday, Frank said.

The group also plans a candlelight vigil outside City Hall before next Monday’s council meeting, with anti-pornography speeches by a rape victim, a county sheriff’s commander and a Royal High School student, Frank said.