A
Bit Much For Exotic Dancers
In Pomona, California, police are visiting exotic dancer's homes
to verify if the address provided to the club is the address in
which they reside. The operators of the clubs are perplexed at
why police and city officials are giving their employees and entertainers
so much attention.
Claims being made say that police are not only intimidating the
dancers but are violating their First Amendment rights and invading
their right to privacy under the state Constitution. It's a form
of intimidationand as a result dancers are leaving to work in
other cities.
Pomona
regulations require managers, doormen, ticket takers, waitresses
and other employees as well as dancers to have permits. As part
of the process, workers must fill out applications, be fingerprinted,
photographed and undergo background checks, said Police Chief
James Lewis. Background investigations include checking for any
type of criminal history. An investigator then goes to the dancers'
homes to make sure they live at the addresses they list on the
application.
It
is being said that the visits only serve to embarrass and ostracize
dancers in front of their families, neighbors and even employers
who at times aren't aware of the second jobs the women have or
are seeking. Many of them have day jobs and don't want their employers
to know they dance at night for a little extra money.
It
seems that having a drivers license address match the application
should be enough and the antagonistic way that the police are
conducting themselves feels like the old scenario in which a child
tauntingly points a finger in the face of a sibling saying "I'm
not touching you." No, but they are sure making an ass of
themselves.