Date: Thu, 30 Apr 2009 22:06:08 -0400
From: Jeffrey Starkweather
Subject: Anonymous gentleman’s club post was a sick joke
This was a feeble attempt at satire and it was clear to me from the title of this post that some opponents of the May 5th mixed-beverage referendum will go to any length to spread false
fears among chatlist readers in hopes misleading them into voting against the referendum. Since I did not care much for the Sopranos’ extremely violent television series I was not aware of the obvious references to that TV show, such as the fact that Silvio Dante was a Mafia character in the Sopranos who ran a strip club.
I was also informed that one reader actually called the number listed on this chatlist post as the contact information for this supposed gentleman’s club and discovered it was a porn site. Thus, any minor reading this chatlist post now has the number of a telephone sex line. Nice move “Anna Lyst.”
This poster’s real identity should be publicly exposed by the Chatlist Moderator and he or she should be permanently banned from the chatlist.
Mayor Randy Voller, chair of Positive Revenue Options (PRO), the pro business mixed-drink referendum committee that includes the Chatham County Chamber of Commerce, and I had contacted the League of Women Voters some time back to see if the League would host a public forum/debate on the referendum. With all the false rumors and fears we had heard expressed by both we felt it was important that the public judge for iself the factual support for the views of the supporters and opponents of this referendum. The League agreed to host but could not find an opponent willing to debate us in public. I also understand when the local newspaper were writing stories on the referendum they had a hard time finding opponents willing to speak. We even posted our frustration on this chatlist and none of the chatlist readers came forward to debate us in public, including “Anna Lyst.”
To be blunt about anonymous poster “Anna Lyst.” He or she is simple a unprincipled “coward.” If you want to be part of a public debate about issues in Chatham then you should at least be willing to come forward publicly and make positive arguments for your position, not rely on pornographic spoofs.
As to the substance, PRO has on several occasions pointed out the false fear about honky-tonks joints being located in rural communities or quiet neighborhoods. If Chatham were to have such joints they would already be there with the less expensive beer and wine licenses currently available. Before a mixed-beverage license is allowed, the State ABC Board requires criminal and background checks on owners, managers and bartenders. Thirty per cent of the total sales must be from food. The license is $1,000 a year, in addition to the $400 each for beer and wine. And local governments can essentially veto a location of such a restaurant in a community by demonstrating that it will be “detrimental” to
its character and safety.
Beyond these regulations, those areas of the county that are zoned have a further protection because most of the zoning in rural areas in residential-agriculture and it would require a
rezoning to commercial to locate a restaurant there. The county commissioners have pretty much unfettered authority to deny or grant a rezoning request. Residents living in unzoned areas of the county may want to petition the commissioners now for zoning.
Finally, I believe this damaging and disgusting anonymous post is a perfect example why anonymous posts should not be allowed on the Chatlist. They allow irresponsible posters such as “Anna Lyst” to broadcast false facts and rumors and to personally attack people without being held accountable.
Jeffrey Starkweather
PRO Campaign Advisor
Chatham County Economic Development Board