Artistic and Livelihood Rights versus Morality Issues in Anti-Lap Assignment

Artistic and Livelihood Rights versus Morality Issues in Anti-Lap Dancing Ordinance - Assignment Example With a diminishing tax base, the city direly needs new livelihood sources. City council members and residents are divided on whether the emerging businesses of strip bars and pornographic moviemakers can save the city’s economy. They also believed that said ordinance was the first step to killing this industry. Mary Macy, 40, a former city council member said: â€Å"Adult entertainment businesses are a blight to any neighborhood. They attract a variety of criminal activity, including prostitution and drug use.† Council member Tonis Zaslow, 35, believed that they are not against new businesses, but opposed to the negative effects of the sex industry on their culture and health. Zaslow said: â€Å"This is just good government. We need to protect citizens from the transmission of sexual diseases, litter and condoms in our streets, drugs sold to children.† What several saw as depraved, others perceived as fun and legitimate livelihoods. George Rappaport, dressed in a business suit, thought that the ordinance was a killjoy: â€Å"I love lap dances. Who doesn’t? I say you’re banning this because you’ve never had one. You guys and gals should get one before you vote.† Bambi Newman, 27, is an actress, a stripper, and a single mom with a daughter. She argued that lap dancing is her right to artistic expression and a source of legitimate livelihood.