Councilman Seeks New Law in Bid to Shut Down Strip Club

Seeking ways to shut down a Lincoln Heights strip club, the area’s city councilman sought a new law Tuesday that would prohibit adult entertainment businesses from opening on streets traveled regularly by schoolchildren.

Councilman Mike Hernandez presented a motion to the Los Angeles City Council that directs the city attorney’s office to take a tougher look at mixed-used zoning. Hernandez said the move was prompted by the much-debated opening of the area’s first strip club, Industrial Strip L.A., two months ago.

Although the area around the site in the 2600 block of Lacy Street is zoned for industrial uses that include adult entertainment clubs, it is also near homes, schools and across the street from an animal shelter where high school students earn credits.

“The current ordinance has loopholes,” Hernandez said. “We can’t have establishments like this opening where hundreds of kids pass by on their way to school every day.”

The motion, expected to face a City Council vote Friday, comes after criticism by community members who have been demonstrating regularly in front of the club since it opened Nov. 22. Neighbors allege that the club is a magnet for crime, including a walk-up shooting of a protester Dec. 30, and say it is too close to schools.

“Children walk past that ‘Live Nude Girls’ sign,” said Henry Schwarz. “It sends a message to them that a lifestyle where women get paid to dance naked in cages is totally acceptable. That club doesn’t belong here.”

The City Council revoked Industrial Strip L.A.’s city permit shortly after it opened, but the club has continued to operate in defiance.

Club owner Kevin Wasko denies that any problems, including alleged indecent exposure and public drinking near the club, are linked to his business. He contends that the club has helped the community by generating about 100 jobs, drawing wealthy patrons and improving law enforcement efforts on the street with the club’s security guards.

“Problems wouldn’t have happened out here if they weren’t protesting,” Wasko said.