8mm film is a novelty now, but I'm guessing that's not what they mean.
Not many people would consider a hurricane a blessing but Hurricane Alicia which struck two years ago last month did have at least one redeeming factor as far as the Rev. Leonard Driskell of the Sun Valley Church of Christ is concerned.
Due to damage, and a subsequent fire of unknown origins, one of his neighbors closed its business doors. That neighbor was the Big Apple, a pornographic bookstore and peepshow establishment.
No longer would the minster have to place "This is not parking for the Big Apple" signs on those select clientele using his parking lot. No longer would he be concerned that a lone man would expose himself to parishioners. No longer would pornographic materials be left on the church grouns and in the parking lot.
Now, his concerns have been re-awakened as the Big Apple is expecting to re-opening within the next few weeks.
He finds himself in the same hopeless situation he experienced before, yet he has initiated another campaign to fight the Big Apple which he says is within 150 feet of church grounds. This campaign concerns getting legislation chartered to keep such establishments farther away. The present law reads there must be a least 1500 feet from the front door of establishments dealing in pornography to the front door of nearby churches. Because the church is located behind the site, the measurement from the Big Apple must be taken by walking around the block. Thus, the Big Apple operated legally.
Drikell wants the law changed to reach 1500 feet from property line to property line. He has already begun writing letters to state and local legislators. And God willing, he says someone will listen.
Apparently this law wasn't passed throughout the city of Houston until 1997 after which it endured more than a decade of legal challenges to actually get it enforced. See Chronicle story here.
Local Group Blasts Porno
A group of South Belt residents representing different factions of the community appeared before the Houston City Council yesterday to express their concerns about the encroachment of pornographic establishments upon the area.
Mary Obenauf and Neil West, representing the South Belt Coalition, Kathy Cupp representing Sagemont Civic Club, and Santa Carnabucci, a long-time resident were among those that made presentations to this council.
"We're working hard to preserve the quality of our neighborhood," Obenauf told council members. "We don't want pornography in any way, shape or form in our area. We encourage the city to continue in its perseverance and we offer our help in whatever capacity necessary to fight pornography in our area."
Carnabucci, a 25-year Beverly Hills resident said, "I have seen this community grow to what it is today and I don't want to see this pornography to start to grow with us."
"We realize the city is trying to do their jobs, "Neil West said about the reason for the apappearance"but we want to uge the city to keep pursuing these establishments on an ongoing basis."
West said the Coalition and he personally will do, "whatever it takes" to keep pornography out of the area. He said the Coalition is trying to use preventative measures so that it will not be faced with the task of running such an establishment out of the neighborhood.
Targets
"There seems to be a trend of these places locating in our area," he said. "Some of us are getting nervous, but the Coalition is well-equipped to deal with this issue. This is not a back-yard issue, but a community issue.
Primary targets for the group include the Folllies Bergere which has been under considerable vice squad observation because of their advertisement of "Live Sex on Stage" and The Big Apple, which is expected to open within the next few weeks as a pornographic bookstore, complete with peep show booths. Vice Sergeant Bill Brown said the owners have yet to apply with the city for a permit to operate such an establishment.
Both business are located within minutes of the area, just off the Gulf Freeway.
Brown complimented the group for its action. "I'm sure the council is always interested in hearing from citizens," he said. "I encourage citizens to get in contact with not only their councilmen, but with all other elected officials so that the government can react to their concerns."
Pornography Migrating
Although West and other have expressed concerns that pornography seems to be migrating here from the north side of Houston, Brown said it is spread somewhat evenly throughout the city. Other facets in the community are aware of growing concern. Among them is the South Belt-Ellington Chamber of Commerce which is forming a committee to investigate the possible problem of pornographic infiltration.
District E Councilman Frank Mancuso commended the group for their efforts. "The general public has got to let it be known that we don't want this (pornography)," he said. "We have to let people know the eat side of town can't be a haven for this type of activity."
Mancuso said the council continues to work with the city attorney and legal department to determine legal means to stop pornographic activities.
"I hope we'll be successful," he said.
And, according to those concerned, residents here hope so, too.
The day after the above article appeared on the front page of the South Belt Leader, the Big Apple was torched.
Apple spoiled, "live sex" dies
Anti-porno Efforts Strengthening
Form letters addressed to city, county and state elected officials will be given to attendees of a community meeting Tuesday night focusing on diffing the area of unwanted establishments dealing in pornography.
Attendees will not only be given the form letters, but will be provided with mailing labels with addresses of 27 officials -- 15 city, six county and six state.
According to Mary Obenauf, letters have been drafted according to action each body of legislators can take regarding the issue. Letters to city officials ask for changes in city ordinances to protect each neighborhood. The county-bound letters ask simply for support, and letters to state legislators ask for enactment of legislation to "combat the problem."
"Our plan of action is to barrage our officials with letters demanding legislative enforcement to be strong," Obenauf said. "It is out attempt to see into the future, to attack long-range problems."
Speakers at the meeting sponsored by the South Belt Coalition will include the Rev. T.A. Pearson of Meadowbrook Baptist Church, Harris County Criminal Judge Jack "Pick" Pickren, and Marie Flickinger, representing the South Belt-Ellington Chamber of Commerce.
Picketing Porno
Pearson and members of his congregation began on Sept. 12 picketing the Follies Bergere which has live sexual-related entertainment. Friday, Spet. 20, when the group appeared at the site, they witnessed the closing of the establishment. "One of the men in the act stopped one of our ladies and told her we could go home, because they were closing," Peason said.
The next, Pearson watched as maintenance men dismantled lights and moved furniture from the building.
"They though we'd give up," Pearson said, "but, we didn't."
Pearson's congregation had a victory party Saturday night.
Big Apple Spoiled
While performers at Follies Bergere were packing up their possessions, firemen were returning from the site of the former Big Apple. A building on the 11135 Gulf Freeway site which was bring prepared for re-opening of the adult bookstore was set on fire Friday afternoon, said arson investigator Bruce Koger.
No one was injured in the fire which caused about $12,000 in damages and there are no suspects at this time, said arson investigator K.T. Kerr.
The original building was destroyed two years ago by a tornado and subsequent fire which was determined by investigators as arson, Kerr said.
A meager crowd gathered at San Jacinto College Tuesday night to hear eight community leaders express their views of pornography and their suggestions on how to rid the area of "such unsavory establishments."
The crow of 50 applauded as city Councilman Frank Mancuso told them, "We have to let them (pornographic establishments) know that we won't have this form of lowlife in our community."
Mancuso praised the efforts of the Rev. Tony Pearson, pastor of Meadowbrook Baptist Church, and his congregation for picketing the Follies Bergere. Nine days after picketing started, the business which advertised "live sex on stage" closed its doors.
"We've learned that there's power in numbers," Mancuso said. "We've made a good start. We've found out the right way, the legal way, to rid our community of these places -- see that they don't make money.
Rev. Pearson also spoke at the meeting, using the opportunity to unsult Mayor Kathy Whitmire's stance on the issue. 'We have a mayor that doesn't understand family," he said.
Peason, who said he was "appalled" by the lack of community response to the issue said, "It's time we set our standards and hold our own feet to the fire."
Pat Wakefield, president of the Houston Federation of Decency shared literature with the group and asked them to seek the attention of legislators in fighting what is "not a victimless crime,"
The meeting was sponsored by the South Belt Coalition. President Mary Obenauf said she was disappointed wih the turnout, and encouraged other community residents who feel strongly about the elimination of pornography become active in the group's efforts. "Resident response will turn any issue around," she said.
She added in response to Pearson's statement about the current mayor that the Coalition is a non-partisan community organization that endorses no political candidates. "We can only deal with the issues," she said.
Chris Clark, chairman of the newly-formed Community Quality Control Committee chaired the meeting and passed out form letters to state, county, and city elected officials appealing for their support in abolishing pornography.
He encouraged interested parties to attend the next city council meeting Oct. 9 to voice their views.
Another public meeting has been planned for Friday, Oct. 18. At Tuesday's meeting it was announced the next meeting would be Tuesday, Oct. 15, but due to conflicts the meeting date was changed.
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