Zine Targets Strip Club for Cleanup

Spurred by complaints from neighboring businesses and residents, Los Angeles City Councilman Dennis Zine has confronted the owners of a Tarzana strip club as being a nuisance in need of a cleanup.

Zine, a reserve police officer who conducted a search of the Frisky Kitty in October, said he has received numerous complaints about unsavory characters hanging around and used condoms littering an adjacent parking lot.

“We’ve had problems with this place for a long time,” he said. “The community is up in arms and they’ve asked me to take aggressive action.”

A week after his initial visit to the Oxnard Street club, Zine drove Police Chief William J. Bratton by the premises for a first-hand look. They cruised through the parking lot and surrounding area.

The club’s owner has denied any criminal activity in his establishment and recently filed a $100-million lawsuit against Zine, charging harassment. He contends that business plummeted because of Zine’s actions.

In the lawsuit, Zine is accused of barging into the club in uniform and conducting an impromptu raid aimed at putting it out of business. Zine said the “five-minute” inspection was part of a routine bar check for illicit activity.

“We have put the city of Los Angeles on notice that we may be a little club, but we are not going to be pushed around,” said Max Amadi, spokesman for club owner Jamal Haddad.