TC4 Posted October 4, 2004 Share Posted October 4, 2004 Uh oh, looks like baseball in D.C. is "doomed": http://www.washtimes.com/metro/20041004-123832-8311r.htm Gay leaders to fight proposed ballpark By S.A. Miller THE WASHINGTON TIMES Leaders of the District's homosexual community say they will use their political clout to save a homosexual nightclub mecca that is likely to be razed to make room for a Major League Baseball stadium in Southeast. Bob Siegel, landlord of several of the neighborhood's homosexual strip bars and adult theaters, said Mayor Anthony A. Williams and the D.C. Council cannot continue to ignore the displacement of the homosexual entertainment district. "The most gay commercial strip in D.C. is going to be wiped out, and [Mr. Williams] doesn't say anything about that," said Mr. Siegel, who is an Advisory Neighborhood Commission member for the area. "It's like a fly swatter coming down and — boom — we are gone." D.C. Council member Jim Graham, Ward 1 Democrat and one of two openly homosexual council members, said he expects political pressure to defend the homosexual club scene. He said he is undecided on the stadium plan and wants to study the details before taking a position. Council member David A. Catania, at-large independent and the council's other openly homosexual member, has said he opposes public financing of the ballpark. He also said any displaced businesses deserve fair compensation and accommodations from the city. Frank Kameny, who is considered the father of District's homosexual rights movement in the 1970s, said the homosexual community probably cannot stop the stadium plan but has enough political leverage to win significant concessions from the city. "Since we moved meaningfully into the political scene and became players in local politics, we achieved a considerable amount of clout and are listened to by the city council," said Mr. Kameny, 79. "We have good friends on the council." Lenny Davis, manager of Glorious Health & Amusement, an X-rated homosexual movie house and video store, said many of the store's patrons are ready to lobby the council or even demonstrate to defend the Southeast's homosexual entertainment zone. "The gay community is pretty strong, and if enough people go out to voice [opposition to the stadium plan], I think some consideration will be given," said Mr. Davis, 67. "A lot of money comes into this community from gays." The administration selected a site near M and South Capitol streets SE for a ballpark for the new team. The location and the city's offer to publicly finance 100 percent of the construction helped persuade baseball officials to move the Expos from Montreal to the nation's capital — a decision announced Wednesday to much fanfare. The mayor Friday introduced legislation to the D.C. Council that would give him authority to acquire the ballpark property through condemnation and finance the project with up to $500 million in bond issues. The city set aside $65 million to buy the land, a sum far higher than its assessed value. But some property owners, including those of homosexual nightclubs, may dig in their heels and force the city to use eminent domain. The $435.2 million stadium would replace about 60 properties in what is now largely a warehouse district in Southeast, including homosexual strip bars, dance clubs, adult theaters and bookstores lining O and Half streets. The displaced businesses would include Glorious Health & Amusement, the female impersonator revue at Ziegfields, the nude stage show at the Follies and bars featuring nude male dancers, such as Wet, Secrets and La Cage Aux Follies, which is under renovation. Homosexual night life has been a fixture of the neighborhood for more than 30 years. "OK wouldn't be the right way to describe the neighborhood but neither would troubled," said Metropolitan Police Sgt. Brett Parson, supervisor of the Gay and Lesbian Liaison Unit, which is staffed by openly homosexual members. "To compare it to other parts of the city, it is no worse." Sgt. Parson said the area is surrounded by low-income housing and has a lot of daytime commercial traffic. "But at night," he said, "it becomes almost exclusively a gathering place for gay, lesbian and transgender entertainment." Mr. Siegel and other homosexual business leaders are clamoring for a meeting with the mayor and council members to strike a deal. They either want a new enterprise zone for homosexual clubs or a guarantee that their strip-bar licenses can transfer to suitable locations. Otherwise, some will refuse to move, Mr. Siegel said. The District's zoning and liquor laws restrict where strip clubs can relocate, and community opposition could derail moves by homosexual bars, dance clubs and theaters. "We do have a concern that the NIMBYs and the puritans who routinely object to other people being able to choose adult entertainment will make it difficult for those businesses, if displaced, to find a new location," said Richard J. Rosendall, vice president for political affairs for the Gay and Lesbian Activists Alliance of Washington, D.C. Mr. Williams said he was aware of the predicament facing the homosexual entertainment businesses and will work with them to find a resolution. "I want to be very, very prudent in how we approach it," he said. "We don't take lightly the displacement of any business, regardless of what it is about. We want to be very serious about this." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
codeorama Posted October 4, 2004 Share Posted October 4, 2004 LOL... Why would you want to put a stadium there!!! What are you going to call it, KY Park? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
afparent Posted October 4, 2004 Share Posted October 4, 2004 I have heard everything now! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jbooma Posted October 4, 2004 Share Posted October 4, 2004 Originally posted by codeorama LOL... Why would you want to put a stadium there!!! What are you going to call it, KY Park? :laugh: just move it to Dupont where the bars belong :laugh: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ntotoro Posted October 4, 2004 Share Posted October 4, 2004 Originally posted by codeorama LOL... Why would you want to put a stadium there!!! What are you going to call it, KY Park? :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: "Welcome to lovely and spacious KY Park, baseball fans. Today is amyl nitrate day, so come pick your bottle up if you missed it at the NOW tent by the entrance... " Not that there's anything wrong with that... Nick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
codeorama Posted October 4, 2004 Share Posted October 4, 2004 Originally posted by ntotoro :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: "Welcome to lovely and spacious KY Park, baseball fans. Today is amyl nitrate day, so come pick your bottle up if you missed it at the NOW tent by the entrance... " Not that there's anything wrong with that... Nick They will give out the new "warming lotion" on fan appreciation day... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OrangeSkin Posted October 4, 2004 Share Posted October 4, 2004 All the more reason to build a ballpark there...they're not exactly helping their cause. Maybe Williams can use this to his advantage with the city council. "Not only will the ballpark bring millions in revenue, it'll also wipe out every gay porn shop and stripclub in town!" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Destino Posted October 4, 2004 Share Posted October 4, 2004 will use their political clout to save a homosexual nightclub mecca Best line ever! :laugh: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laurent Posted October 4, 2004 Share Posted October 4, 2004 First Angelos and now THIS???!?! You've got to be effing kidding me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baculus Posted October 4, 2004 Share Posted October 4, 2004 If the business need to be compensated, if that is the normal procedure, than do that, and move on with it. Of course, business, no matter the nature, do have a right to exist - it's a fine line between the needs of the state and the small business owner. Though I really don't like the nature of these businesses, it's often too easy for the government to simply sieze land whenever it feels the need. No matter the nature of these business, which is an issue upon itself, they are citizens that have a right to own a business in a properly zoned area. How, the question is, do these business own or rent their shops? If they rent, then they don't have much say in the matter - it really comes down to an issue between the property holdes and the District. Though, the ballpark would probably generate more revenue and encourage a healthier traffic to the area then the current "smut" and X-rated business that currently occupy that territory. They are fighting an uphill battle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest 979guy Posted October 4, 2004 Share Posted October 4, 2004 Wash. Times: Gay leaders to fight proposed ballpark in D.C. shouldn't gay leaders be for a ballpark? ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ancalagon the Black Posted October 4, 2004 Share Posted October 4, 2004 Originally posted by 979guy shouldn't gay leaders be for a ballpark? ... Only if they swing both ways. These ones may bat for the other team. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnny Punani2 Posted October 5, 2004 Share Posted October 5, 2004 Now I've heard everything..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SkinsFTW Posted October 5, 2004 Share Posted October 5, 2004 Maybe they could put a fags 'R' us shop in the epark for them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thiebear Posted October 5, 2004 Share Posted October 5, 2004 The District of Columbia is a Democrat town. There is no way they can wipe out the Homosexual Headquarters and continue to pander to the people they say they represent.... What ever happened to caring for the people? You offer them marriage yet you take away all the places they meet to dance and relax... I wonder if Marion Barry will stand for this? OH WAIT! I'm sorry its a Democrat Town, they can wipe them off the face of the planet and it will get a blurb on page 27... If it was Fairfax, Virginia it would be on the cover of EVERY newspaper in the country right now.... yep, evil conservatives trying to get rid of the homosexuals...:cool: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larry Posted October 5, 2004 Share Posted October 5, 2004 This may be a dumb question, but don't they have a big baseball (and football) stadium in town that's pretty much sitting empty right now? Near the Metro and everything? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jbooma Posted October 5, 2004 Share Posted October 5, 2004 Originally posted by Larry This may be a dumb question, but don't they have a big baseball (and football) stadium in town that's pretty much sitting empty right now? Near the Metro and everything? Yes that is where they are playing next year, while the new stadium is being built on the waterfront. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larry Posted October 5, 2004 Share Posted October 5, 2004 So, what's wrong with saying, say, "The taxpayers will build a new stadium, just as soon as the existing one can achieve, say, 75% occupancy for a season"? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NavyDave Posted October 5, 2004 Share Posted October 5, 2004 MCI Center replaced the popular (well they were in the 70-80's) 25 cent peep shows, porno theatre and $15 hummer alleys. Hmm a family environment with business and environmental changes in the best interest for the city or continued squalor and perversion? What a tough choice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Destino Posted October 5, 2004 Share Posted October 5, 2004 Originally posted by NavyDave MCI Center replaced the popular (well they were in the 70-80's) 25 cent peep shows, porno theatre and $15 hummer alleys. Hmm a family environment with business and environmental changes in the best interest for the city or continued squalor and perversion? What a tough choice. I hate to say it but I agree with NavyDave. I don't think gay clubs are as bad as "hummer alleys" but the area in question isn't a great one. Adding a stadium will bring money and change to a area that needs both. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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