BETHESDA, MD -- Using tactics out of Mayor Melton’s playbook (see report below) two uniformed officers of the security division of Montgomery County's Homeland Security Department -- an unarmed force that patrols about 300 county buildings -- recently announced to startled patrons using computers in the Little Falls Library that the viewing of Internet pornography was forbidden. One of them then proceeded to challenge an Internet user's choice of viewing material and asked him to step outside. A librarian came to the patron’s rescue and police were called. In the end, the patron did not have to step outside and the two officers were reassigned to other duties. Still, is this scary, or what?

From Cameron W. Barr, Washington Post, 2/17/06

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MAYOR VERSUS EXOTIC DANCE CLUBS

JACKSON, MS -- Mayor Frank Melton has openly declared war on exotic dance clubs here. Melton says he wants all exotic dance clubs out of the city. Recently, during a personal visit to the downtown Centerfolds exotic dance club, the Mayor reported being shocked -- shocked! -- when he witnessed a nude dancer engaged in “illicit activity.”

"We went to three other clubs that night," said Mayor Frank. "I went into this one (Centerfolds), and I was in a state of shock. I closed it on the spot."

"I'm not going to have that type of behavior in Jackson, period. I don't agree with those clubs and now they are there, violating city ordinances. I am just not going to have it," said Melton.

The online Wikipedia paints a picture of Jackson Mayor Frank Melton as a cowboy mayor who uses a personal approach in his battle against crime, wearing a badge he received in a previous county position and personally arresting suspects, although he holds no official jurisdiction to make arrests.

The Mayor’s current principal target for moral reform is Gilbert Paige, Centerfold owner and also owner of Girls of Paradise, which was the target of a recent sting operation. Paige has been denied adult entertainment licenses for Centerfolds, Girls of Paradise and the McDowell Road Adult Book Store, causing him to feel like a target in Mayor Frank’s vendetta.

From Andrew Hasbun, WLBT Jackson, 2/14/06
And from Kathleen Baydala, The Clarion Ledger, 2/14/06
And from Katie Garrety, WJTV Channel 12, Jackson, 2/10/06

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HOISTED ON THEIR OWN PETARD

TUPELO, MS -- The right-wing American Family Association (AFA) became the target of thousands of indecency complaints when the organization sent out an e-mail alert containing an exotic dancing clip. 170,000 e-mail complaints were quickly lodged with the FCC -- against the AFA clip! That tally actually comes from the AFA. No word yet on the actual total, but the FCC enforcement bureau is checking into it.

A notice on the AFA Website clarifies the nature of the “offending” alert. “The February 6 episode of NBC's Las Vegas contained a scene inside a strip club,” says the AFA’s lead-in. Then: “The content of that scene was extremely graphic. We have provided a video of the scene below.”

Whoops. No link. No video. Someone was no doubt told to hurry to take the link down but then forgot to change the text announcing the link.

AFA Chairman Donald Wildmon promises in the future to pixilate "offensive" images.

From John Eggerton, Broadcasting and Cable, 2/14/06

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UPDATE: “INTERNET BUSINESS TOO CLOSE TO SCHOOL”

KINGSTON, WA -- In September, 2005, X-Press reported that Jeff and Susan Owen had been charged in Kingston with a misdemeanor for violating a Kitsap County adult entertainment zoning regulation by running a home-based adult Internet business. It seems the couple’s home was within 1,000 feet of Spectrum Community School. Because Jeff Owen had been to court as a high-profile opponent of a county construction project near his home, he suspected the county had filed charges in retaliation.

Now comes word from the Owens’ attorney Robert Apgood that an order dismissing the charges in this bizarre case has been issued by the court. The state has 30 days to appeal.

Earlier, Kitsap County District Court Judge Marilyn Paja had ruled the county’s code does not apply to the couple’s business, clearing the way for the charges to be dismissed. It was not disputed that the couple had used their home as a location for the photographing of women clad in leather, some posing as furniture or depicting scenes of bondage. However, the ordinance doesn’t cover such a business because the customers were not in contact with the performers at the location. In addition, the Web site is hosted on a computer in Illinois, and fees paid to access the site go to a company based in Seattle.

"As in other contexts, the laws and legislative bodies are challenged to keep up with Internet and computer-generated technology," wrote Judge Paja.

From an email by FSC member, attorney Robert Apgood, 2/10/06