SOBs and Loan Sharks

I am really talking about Sexually Oriented Businesses (referred to as SOBs). One of the important functions of a city council member is to be a municipal legislator. Without an SOB ordianance, an adult book store, a purveyor of pornographic material, a proprietor of adult novelties all may open a business anywhere in our fair city. Our recently enacted ordinance coupled with a zoning ordinance may legally require such businesses to locate to the outer reaches of our city. In doing so we protect areas in which children/families go to school, recreate, go to church, practice the arts and generally uphold the health and welfare as well as the values of our community. See this related article.

In addition, we have enacted an ordinance limiting payday advance businesses as well as check cashing businesses to 1 per 10,000 residents (2 are allowed in AF, grandfathering those already in business), as well as dictating some outside architecture, signage and other requirements. Such businesses provide needed services for those who circumstances have resulted in horrendous credit ratings and need loans from paycheck to paycheck. However, consumer groups argue these businesses take advantage of the disadvantaged and charge excessive interest rates (some as much as 135%). Click here for an article referencing our ordinance.