EDITORIAL: Idealism, reality and nude dancing

The nude dancing settlement has left plenty of people feeling unsettled.

Some locals have been pointing fingers at city councilmen, blaming our elected leaders for allowing a strip club to move into Destin.

Commenters on thedestinlog.com have even gone as far as to say that those who voted to approve a settlement with The Oasis aren’t fit to serve their city. Others say the council has opened the door to the death of morality in our “family-friendly” community.

We disagree.

While the Log has made it clear that we don’t necessarily support our new neighbor-to-be on Airport Road, the blame cast upon city councilmen is misplaced. It may seem that the council had a choice in the matter since Jim Bagby and Dewey Destin voted against approving the settlement, but strip club owner Terry Stephenson would have pushed his way into Destin regardless of council approval.

A higher power determined that in 1981 when the Supreme Court ruled that nude dancing is “not without its First Amendment protections.”

And so, the city only had two choices, settle or fight a losing battle that would have cost taxpayers untold thousands.

They settled, and in the process, they actually won a couple of victories for those of you that want to limit exposure to an establishment offering adult entertainment. Stephenson has been forced to build in the Industrial Zone, a low-traffic area, and the advertising he is allowed to do has been limited.

Through such restrictions, the city has made it as difficult as possible for a strip club to survive in Destin.
All in all, they did pretty well.

Whether or not Stephenson’s club thrives is now entirely up to the people living and working in Destin. Some might say that Destinites won’t patronize this “den of evil,” but tourists will keep it afloat. But as some area restaurants have learned, it takes locals to stay open year round.

So, in a year from now, if the poles at Destin’s first strip club are still being worked, you’ll know who to blame.

A COLLECTION OF COVERAGE

EDITORIAL: Isn't under oath enough for city after Oasis bares it all

EDITORIAL: Oasis makes a mole hill out of a Mountain

EDITORIAL: The naked truth: Strip clubs can lead to trouble

EDITORIAL: Family matters, but does a topless bar?

THE ANATOMY OF A TOPLESS BAR LAWSUIT 

Pastors gear up for 'spiritual warfare' as city vows to fight

Secondary harm: Destin's case against strip clubs