Anti-nudity legislation in Hillsborough Co. Fla this Wednesday!!!!!!!

At 9am on Wednesday, May 7 at the Hillsborough County Center the
Hillsborough County Commissioners will vote to accept an ordinance to
be placed on the ballot that will ban all forms of public nudity,
including those of private clubs like yours. Even though the ban
would not apply to Pasco County, the very same proposal has been
passed in two other Florida counties and has been upheld by the
Supreme Court.

All of this is sponsored by the American Family Association's David
Caton and Commissioner Ronda Storms and Ken Hagan's bid for re-
election in 2004.

We urge naturist from throughout the county to come to the public
hearing on May 7 at 9am to oppose this shameful legislation.

Call 813-272-5660 and ask for each Commissioner: Thomas Scott, Ken
Hagan, Pat Frank, Jan Platt, Jim Norman, Ronda Storms. Let them know
to vote no on the Public Nudity Ordinance.

Suggested letter -

Hillsborough County Commissioners

601 East Kennedy Blvd

Tampa, Florida 33602

Re: Vote NO on ballot initiative to ban nudity

Dear Hillsborough Commissioners:

I urge you to vote against any resolution or ordinance that seeks to
further criminalize nudity above and beyond current Florida law
chapter 847. The proposed ballot initiative suggests that nudity
causes violence yet, Tampa Police reports that violent crime is down
by 4.9% and sexual battery is down by 8.5%. Obviously, current laws
work effectively.

I do not want my tax dollars wasted on this frivolous law when we
have many pressing needs like healthcare, domestic security, water
supply and transportation, among many.

Please vote no on the proposed ballot initiative and stop right-wing
extremists like David Caton and the American Family Association from
imposing narrow-minded points of view, embarrassing Hillsborough
County.

*************

Please, contact me directly at 813-469-1904 and I can fax exact
details of the proposed ballot initiative/ordinance.

I look forward to working with you,

Mauricio Rosas

Co-Director

Voice of Freedom
http://www.voiceoffreedom.com

Voice of Freedom is dedicated to informing the public of actions by
our government that affect our Unalienable Rights to Life, Liberty
and the Pursuit of Happiness, and our Constitutional guarantees of
Freedom of Speech, Freedom to Peaceably Assemble and Freedom to
petition the Government to redress of grievances.

2605 West Kennedy Blvd.
Tampa, FL 33609
Tel: 813-348-6363
Fax: 813-348-3954

At 9am on Wednesday, May 7 at the Hillsborough County Center the
Hillsborough County Commissioners will vote to accept an ordinance to
be placed on the ballot that will ban all forms of public nudity,
including those of private clubs like yours. Even though the ban
would not apply to Pasco County, the very same proposal has been
passed in two other Florida counties and has been upheld by the
Supreme Court.

All of this is sponsored by the American Family Association's David
Caton and Commissioner Ronda Storms and Ken Hagan's bid for re-
election in 2004.

We urge naturist from throughout the county to come to the public
hearing on May 7 at 9am to oppose this shameful legislation.

Call 813-272-5660 and ask for each Commissioner: Thomas Scott, Ken
Hagan, Pat Frank, Jan Platt, Jim Norman, Ronda Storms. Let them know
to vote no on the Public Nudity Ordinance.

Suggested letter -

Hillsborough County Commissioners

601 East Kennedy Blvd

Tampa, Florida 33602

Re: Vote NO on ballot initiative to ban nudity

Dear Hillsborough Commissioners:

I urge you to vote against any resolution or ordinance that seeks to
further criminalize nudity above and beyond current Florida law
chapter 847. The proposed ballot initiative suggests that nudity
causes violence yet, Tampa Police reports that violent crime is down
by 4.9% and sexual battery is down by 8.5%. Obviously, current laws
work effectively.

I do not want my tax dollars wasted on this frivolous law when we
have many pressing needs like healthcare, domestic security, water
supply and transportation, among many.

Please vote no on the proposed ballot initiative and stop right-wing
extremists like David Caton and the American Family Association from
imposing narrow-minded points of view, embarrassing Hillsborough
County.

*************

Please, contact me directly at 813-469-1904 and I can fax exact
details of the proposed ballot initiative/ordinance.

I look forward to working with you,

Mauricio Rosas

Co-Director

Voice of Freedom
http://www.voiceoffreedom.com

Voice of Freedom is dedicated to informing the public of actions by
our government that affect our Unalienable Rights to Life, Liberty
and the Pursuit of Happiness, and our Constitutional guarantees of
Freedom of Speech, Freedom to Peaceably Assemble and Freedom to
petition the Government to redress of grievances.

2605 West Kennedy Blvd.
Tampa, FL 33609
Tel: 813-348-6363
Fax: 813-348-3954

I need all nudists to send email to the county, even if you don't live in Florida. Please, take this opportunity to help other nudists out and keep nudism from being made illegal. If it can happen here it can happen where ever you are.

I challenge the administrators here on Clothesfree to write letters to show the others how we should be getting involved and helping each other.

They even have a website where you can email them right from the site right here. (http://www.hillsboroughcounty.org/mail/email.html)

Cyndiann,

I wrote to them even though I won't be living in florida. If they pass that law there, it could happen anywhere.

That is exactly the point Jon. It is already spreading all over the country, the same exact bill with just a few word changes from place to place.

Thanks for helping out.

[wannabenaked2001]

Cyndiann,

Thanks for bringing this to our attention. I was able to voice my dissapproval of the proposed bill thanks to the link you provided to the county commissioners.

I too do not live in Florida, but it's a nice place to visit. I hope to take advantage of the nudist resorts there next time I visit. /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

[Naturist Mark]

Isn't Lake Como Resort in Hillsborough County? And five Land o' Lakes resorts just across the Pasco county line?

Could it possibly be a coincidence that such a broad prohibition against the practice of social nudism is being attempted in an area with such a strong presence of nudist activity?

Usually the AFA types try to get laws passed without public input or foreknowledge. They tried this in Ohio last year with HB469 -which died once it was exposed to public scrutiny and a concerted naturist response. Hillsborough County would appear to be an exception if they expect to put the initiative on a public ballot. Do they have the money and clout to wage a media campaign to miseducate the voters about nudism? Just how 'local' is this initiative?

-Mark

[Fresh Air]

Is it because of the strip clubs?

When I lived in FL they passed laws like that in a few counties...to do away with the strip clubs. Unfortunately, the law is vauge and does not discriminate and innocent (nudist) bystanders get hurt by it. Sucks, but if I am correct it's not a law to 'get the nudists'.

[Trailscout]

Are there any beaches in Hillsboro County? If so, are there any that have been traditionally used by nude bathers?

Are there any nudist resorts in Hillsboro County?

I am not a resident of that area, but I am a potential tourist but I would not go there and spend my tourist dollars if I am denied access to nudist venues.

Strip clubs can attract a troublesome clientelle, but the solution at strip clubs is the same as any bar or hotel where public drunkeness and prostitution become a problem, you post police nearby on busy nights and you may even need undercover detectives. No one has proposed closing bars and hotels because the same problems can occur there.

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Trailscout:
Are there any beaches in Hillsboro County? If so, are there any that have been traditionally used by nude bathers?

Are there any nudist resorts in Hillsboro County?

I am not a resident of that area, but I am a potential tourist but I would not go there and spend my tourist dollars if I am denied access to nudist venues.

Strip clubs can attract a troublesome clientelle, but the solution at strip clubs is the same as any bar or hotel where public drunkeness and prostitution become a problem, you post police nearby on busy nights and you may even need undercover detectives. No one has proposed closing bars and hotels because the same problems can occur there. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>There are no nude beaches in Hillsborough and no nudist clubs either.

In this case the strip clubs have no problem with prostitution. One club owner brought in a graphic of the county and had the area where the clubs are highlighted in pink. He then had prostitution arrests put in as black dots, one per arrest. None of those were in the pink area. None!

While crime rates have been going down there has been an increase in strip clubs. Obviously no correlation there don't you think?

Naturistmark, Como is in Pasco too. As for the theory about this being attempted in an area high in nudists, I don't think it applies. This guy Davie Caton just wants to get rid of the strip clubs and we just happen to be caught up in it. This same legislation in various forms has been put forth all over the country on state, county and local levels.

David Caton is a reformed drug user/alcohol abuser/porn addict that wants to force everyone to live to his own standards and not allow anyone the right to think for themselves.

I say if you don't want to see nude dancers just don't go in the clubs. They really don't add to the crime problem.

[NakedGary]

Its not over or a done deal YET, I am disappointed of the vote.

From NAC

NATURIST ACTION COMMITTEE
UPDATE
************************************************** ********************
http://www.naturistsociety.com/NAC/
************************************************** ********************

DATE : May 7, 2003
SUBJECT: Hillsborough County, Florida
TO : All naturists

The Hillsborough County Board of Commissioners met on Wednesday, May 7. They heard comments from the public on the issue of the proposed anti-nudity ordinance, and then they voted later exactly as expected - 4 to 3 in favor of sending the flawed measure to a vote of the people. However, the commissioners asked that the ordinance first be returned to County staff for the purpose of "reflecting language from other communities."

This, despite admonishments from the County Attorney that such a move might make the ordinance less likely to pass constitutional muster.

The vote of the commissioners, while disappointing, was expected. The Naturist Action Committee is working with local naturists, as well as with other national and regional organizations, to explore further ways in which to derail the ordinance. NAC has retained a local political lobbyist and we will be working with the County's staff and members of the Board of County Commissioners to blunt the damaging effect the ordinance would have on naturists, should it ultimately be adopted.

MORE INFORMATION
Additional information about the proposed Hillsborough County ordinance is available on the web site of the Naturist Action Committee:

www.naturistsociety.com/NAC (http://www.naturistsociety.com/NAC)

Banning nudity in PRIVATE clubs is ourageous! I'm surprised they can get away with it. Surely there's something in your Constitution to prevent such an infringement of civil liberties?

If any national or local authority in the European Union tried to prohibit nudity in private places they would be hauled up before the European Court double quick! I'm not a naturist but I'd fight that corner, no problem!!

Stu

Many of us were at the Hillsborough County Commissioners. I'm pleased that we secured three votes from three very intelligent female members of the council. One asked if an 11 year old child was out in the front yard under the sprinkler if s/he could be arrested. She also warned the council that they were headed to spend millions of wasted dollars in legal fees.

The ordinance has to come back to the Council again for some revisions and will give us still another chance. And some of us will be proposing a rather immediate challenge under the provisions of the Florida Religious Freedom Restoration Act and the recent Federal injunction against Florida providing that there is a right to have nude demonstrations. Let Hillsborough start spending (wasting) the taxpayers money. If any has to invoke the RFFA and needs to spend money for an attorney (and prevails) the county must pay all of the legal bills.

Bill Martin
www.naturist-christians.org (http://www.naturist-christians.org)