08-28-00 Council Meeting Minutes

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REGULAR MEETING AUGUST 28, 2000 Mr. Donald Cressy, Cressy and Everett Realtors, 332 North Ironwood, South Bend, Indiana, informed the Council that he has been a long time resident of the community and he wants the it to be a good place to raise a family. He noted that he is the past chair of Project Future and the mission of Project Future is to recruit new businesses to the community. In order to be successful they are always competing with other cities and states. They strive to improve the quality of life and this ordinance is a step in the right direction. He stated that some people think this ordinance will not stand up in court and some believe the City will stand up to that challenge. No one can guarantee if the ordinance will stand up to that challenge but it will make a difference in the quality of life in this community. Mr. Sam Walsh, 23285 U.S. 12, Edwardsburg, Michigan, owner of a business located in Scottsdale Mall, South Bend, Indiana, noted that he is the Chairman of the Health and Public Safety Committee of Citizens for Community Values. Mr. Walsh stated that he is a former police office and he gave his perspective as a police officer of some of the things that have happened that he witnessed on South Michigan Street. He noted that when the strip clubs opened up there was an increase in calls for service. He further noted that sexually oriented businesses are a magnet for crime and illegal activities. Roman Catholic Bishop Daniel Jenky, Rector of St. Matthew Cathedral and Pastor of the Cathedral Parish, South Bend, Indiana, indicated that he represents Bishop D'Arcy and every priest who serves in South Bend. Bishop Jenky relayed his recollection of the cleaning up of sexually oriented businesses in Times Square. He stated that South Michigan is not Times Square but it is the neighborhood where he lives and is the main port of entry of individuals coming in from the south and what they see has an impact on everyone who lives here. He noted that there was some testimony to the effect that if the City regulated these types of businesses further it would keep the University of Notre Dame money from coming into South Bend and the south side of our City. As someone who has been close to Notre Dame, he stated that everything the University stands for is against these types of businesses and he knows that the priests and brothers of Holy Cross would rather see the football stadium torn down than to support those businesses. Mr. Jim Frick, no address given, stated that he has been a business owner on South Michigan Street for twenty -four (24) years and is the President of the South Gateway Improvement Association. At their monthly meetings they have voted unanimously in favor of this ordinance, especially the 10:00 p.m. closing time and they have support from all the other neighborhood business associations. They are confident this ordinance will be passed as it is critical to the revitalization of South Michigan Street and it is the right thing to do. Rev. Michael Veldner, 1133 North Adams Street, South Bend, Indiana, stated that he is associated with the New Life Deliverance Center on South Michigan Street. Rev. Veldner stated that strip joints are known as jobs. He stated that in a society that views dancing in strip joints as harmless and pornography as harmless and nothing more than adult pleasure, there are victims. The real victims are the women because they are being used, the children because they are not being protected and the men because they are being trapped in it. He stated that our society is infected with the disease of pornography. Rev. Veldner cited statistics regarding the profits made from the industry as well as the statistics on crime and pornography. He urged the Council to do something right and pass this ordinance. Mr. Jerry Ivacic, 2239 Topswood Lane, South Bend, Indiana, with offices at 3019 South Michigan Street, South Bend, Indiana, noted that people have a negative perception of South Michigan Street and he asked the Council to go to the very core of their being to choose what is right for their constituents because this is a community of good people. Brother Ed Cortney, University ofNotre Dame, advised the Council that he has put together an essay which he would like to read. Brother Cortney stated that the patrons of pornography and their supporters maintain that pornography and obscenity are protected by the free speech clause of the First Amendment to the Constitution and is beyond prosecution. Pornography and obscenity has no relation to the Constitution and is simply poor conduct and behavior and this industry will destroy the hearts and minds of thousands.