Assembly Report for August 30, 2005

BREAKING THE GLASS CEILING IN ANCHORAGE: A FANTASY ON FIFTH

A parade of witnesses - pro and con- kept the Assembly from acting on Kathy Hartman's application to move the Setter Bar to the second floor of a newly rennovated building on 5th Ave. The building also houses a non alcoholic strip club attracting patrons 18-21 years of age. With dozens of people still wating to testify at the end of Tuesday night's meeeting, the public hearing resumes on September 27th.

At issue was a request by the Setter Bar to amend a conditional use (zoning) permit allowing the bar to expand to a larger area on the second floor of a building shared with Fantasies, a non-alcoholic teen "strip club" located on the first floor. Both businesses are owned and operated by sisters Carol and Kathy Hartman, share the same parking lot, a common entrance, and restroom facilities. Presently, the Setter is separated from the teen club only by a glass wall lined with stools bar patrons use to view the action in the ajoining teeen club. To be locaed on the second floor, the expanded Setter Bar will feature a enclosed glass "viewing area" right above the dancers' stage on the first floor of Fantasies. According to Setter's attorney Gordon Schadt, the "viewing area . . . will be completely glassed in for safety and drool protection."

Despite efforts by Assembly Chair Anna Fairclough to limit testimony to strictly land use issues, former employees of the two businesses, health care professionals, community actvists, neighbors, and businessmen schooled the Assembly on the finer points of the operation and management of teen strip clubs and bars. The Assembly heard several people describe "lap dances" offered in Fantasies by scantilly clad young women who stradle or drape themselves over male customers. According to Schadt, lap dances are legal in underage clubs. Allan Tesche learned how club "dancers" in Fantasies entertain guests in prone positions. Questions by Dick Traini yielded claims by several people that persons employed in the club had criminal records and engaged in illegal gun sales.

The Assembly directed Anna Fairclough to participate, despite her claim that an" appearance of impropriety" might exist if she voted against the Hartmans after the hearing. Fairclough is employed by Standing Together Against Rape (STAR), which opposses expansion of the Setter and its colocation with the teen strip club. The public hearing has not closed; Fairclough did not say how she intends to vote. Midtown Assemblyman Dan Coffey was allowed participate, even though he represented Ms. Hartman 18 months ago in the same matter, may retain confidential information gained about the business, and is availble to handle similar legal matters in the future. Voting to allow Coffey to participate and, at times to lead the Assembly discussion, were Anna Fairclough, Dan Sullivan, Paul Bauer, Ken Stout, Chis Birch, and Dick Traini.

The continued hearing on September 27th begins at 8:00 p.m. Over thirty people are still signed up to testify.

READERS PIPE UP:

Message:

What don't you guys understand about conflict of interest? Coffey's is clear to any observer. If Anna votes no, she appears to be representing her staff and/or board. If she votes yes, there is a real concern about her qualifications for her job.

You guys look like fools.

Heather

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Mr Tesche,

What in the H*** is going on up there in Anchorage? Is this the best use of taxpayers $ - to spend time argueing about setting up a viewing area for the adults to drool over scantily clad teenagers. Maybe you can just put up windows in the showers at your local YMCA and charge an admission fee there. And what about the GLAD community? Do they have access to watch your teenage boys undress and cavort in front of the public?

By the way, I don't like the tone of your Muni Blogs either. Why are just the dissenters (NO votes) highlighted for each proposal with Anna Fairclough listed prominently in bold! Is this a Bad thing to vote against proposals before the assembly?

Respectfully submitted by a loyal reader of your BLogSPot,

Erol