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April 29, 2005
BROTHELPALOOZA Pahrump's Pandora?TOWN BOARD MOVES TO REMOVE PROSTITUTION BAN WITHIN TOWN
By BREANNE HUBBARD
The board met Tuesday night at its regularly scheduled meeting in the Bob Ruud Community Center to discuss a number of items, including the ordinance. The amendment hasn't gone through yet - there are still two more readings before any action will be taken. However, placing the first reading on the agenda was more than enough to outrage several members of the community. Board Chairman Richard Billman stated in the beginning of the meeting there wouldn't be discussion of the ordinance during the first reading, but public comment would be the time to air concerns. Tim Hafen, longtime resident and developer in Pahrump, was the first to pronounce his distaste for the amendment of Pahrump Town Ordinance No. 3, better known as the brothel ordinance - and the fact at least some board members no longer want to keep brothels out of the township. Hafen said he has to look at why items such as the ordinance amendment would be placed on the board's agenda. He read the third paragraph aloud; pointing out the language was narrowly drawn to give brothels the opportunity to move into town limits. "I just think this is so ill-advised," Hafen said. He also stated the only person this would help in the valley is brothel and Gentlemen's Kingdom owner Joe Richards. "It isn't prostitution that I object to. It's the way some of the things are done," Hafen said. Hafen was also concerned with board member Paul Willis' involvement in the amendment. Willis and board member Ed Bishop were sponsors for the ordinance amendment and Hafen stated there was a direct conflict of interest for Willis since the board member is a previous employee of Richards'. Indeed, Willis continues to lobby for Richards and has even "pressured" local businesses to advertise in Richards' new newspaper, The Pahrump Mirror. Former board member Jane Wisdom said she had strong opposition to the amendment, since she remembers all too well what the board went through to get the ordinance passed. Wisdom said parties are still being sued for the ordinance. "I ask you how you can, in all good conscience, bring this up again?" Without the ordinance in place, Wisdom fears Pahrump would become the brothel capital of the world. "I urge you to reconsider this issue and vote it down," Wisdom said. Paula Glidden, another former board member, said, "I'm saddened in the way the board is handling (the ordinances)." Glidden pointed out the amendment was already written before a discussion was done. "It's scary to me that you've taken the power away from the people," she said. With this current board, however, the writing of controversial ordinances before any public input could be heard has become commonplace - and troublesome to at least two deputy attorneys general in Carson City who spoke with the Pahrump Valley Times about recent board actions. Glidden also agreed with Hafen on Willis' conflict of interest. "I hope you watch that for yourself," she said to Willis. Resident Paula Elefante said if the board amends the ordinance, it would "make it legal for street whores to put their heads in windows." The town could see prostitution downtown, mainly in the casino area of Pahrump. Elefante confronted Willis and mentioned his young daughter, who she said could be stopped by a stranger in a car for a proposition. "Here's $50, or $100. Give me a blow-job," she said. The crowd at the community center gasped in horror at her profane statement and Billman urged Elefante to watch her language. Two more residents were against the amendment due to the fear of potential heightened crime in the neighborhood. With a sheriff's office already strapped for cash and personnel, the lack of bite in the ordinance would only put more pressure on the officers. Pastor Paul Jordan from Church on a Mission said he didn't know much about the ordinance, but he does see many families struggling to make ends meet. "I'd like to think I have a thin pulse on what's going on with these broken families," he said. Opening the ordinance would only create more family problems, the pastor said. From a business perspective, resident Keith Barkley said there were a "plethora of studies" that show brothels aren't good for the surrounding businesses. Letting brothels overrun the town wouldn't send a positive note to businesses wanting to move to Pahrump, he said. Resident Jim Petell said the board wouldn't be able to handle the crime and prostitution and it would more than likely be seen in the casinos. The board was fairly quiet after public comment ended. "The board members will listen to the comments," Billman said. He also stated some points of information brought up by residents would be looked into. If the readings stay on track, the board wouldn't be expected to make a decision until May 24. In the meantime, state attorneys said they would look into Willis' relationship with Richards, but refrained from public comment until an investigation - if one is ultimately warranted - is completed. Doug McMurdo contributed to this story. |
