I have had some pretty interesting talks with folks out in the Montana Vista area recently. It seems they are a little concerned about a growing theme of businesses popping up in their community. In an odd coincidence, the County of El Paso has decided to start looking into actually enforcing their own rules around the county.
The El Paso Times even got in on the act. They printed a news story and an editorial on the sudden attention being paid to the rules out in the hinter lands (county).
News piece http://www.elpasotimes.com/ci_20047563
Editorial http://www.elpasotimes.com/opinion/ci_20056802
The concerned citizens in the Montana Vista area came to me about the opening of yet another strip club in their area. It's called "Koi Cabaret" and it's apparently in violation of more than a few of the county's requirements.
Here's what the county requires - http://www.epcounty.com/courtorders/SOB%20Order.pdf
I can tell you that the building is apparently within 800 feet of a residence. The ordinance says it has to be at least 1,000 feet (not 1,500 as the El Paso Times reported incorrectly - are you surprised?) from the nearest residence.
The sign on the building is in major violation of the code. It's more than 10% of the entire surface area of the wall it hangs from and has graphics. The rules say you can't have anything but the business' name on the sign. Click to enlarge.
Residents in the area are picking on the code violations and have asked to see a some kind of business license for the new strip club in order to force the county into really looking at their own rules and enforcing them.
The problem residents have is that it seems the only close place to get a job is a strip club and that's not something they want their teenagers to aspire to - for obvious reasons.
And let's not forget that these places aren't known for the sober, level headed interaction between patrons. Fights, drunk driving and the general debauchery associated with beered-up men around scantily clad women have an effect on the entire neighborhood.
I don't agree with the opposition of a business that operates within the confines of the law just because a neighborhood isn't comfortable with what they do inside. Just look at my thoughts on the CVNA situation. If these people are worried their daughters will become strippers because they live near a strip club, that's their problem, no the strip club's. However, these residents have clearly shown violations of code and should get what they want here even if it's coming from a place of personal ideological preference. Their claims are valid and must be looked at.
On top of the code violations, one sleuthy resident was able to figure out why the cops were called to the place before it even officially opened. Apparently the owner has been accused of some kind of large theft from a business inside the El Paso city limits. Details are sketchy, but my source says she's talked to county and city law enforcement officials and knows that the owner is not in a good place from a legal standpoint.
There are lots of issues here that I think are important. The unimportant issue is the business being a strip club. You've got violations of the rules set forth and you got a guy who might be in some legal trouble running the place. Those aren't the kinds of things that build healthy neighborhoods. Somebody at the county needs to get over there and see about what's going with this place.
In case you hadn't heard, all of the commissioners believe that the county ends somewhere before you get to Eastlake - the rest of that is just wasted land subject to eminent domain. Strip clubs just aren't what you want in your neighborhoods, so I do sympathize - but I do find it ironic that among my friends who live out in Montana Vista, they chose to because they want to get away from the hassles of City Code Enforcement. Therefore, if the neighbors want Codes enforced on this business, then they should also expect them to be enforced on everyone.
Posted by: dot | March 02, 2012 at 09:31 AM
Excellent point there Dot!
Posted by: Gossip Girl | March 02, 2012 at 01:54 PM
I have to agree, excellent point Dot.
I used to live out in the far east part of the county about 15 years ago and having fewer rules to live by was one of the reasons I moved out there. To be perfectly honest I couldn't care less about a strip club being located in some proximity to a residential area, but I do have a problem with the proliferation of junkyards that exist in the county, they are far more of a nuisance and blight on the community than any strip club is.
Posted by: robnelp | March 02, 2012 at 02:22 PM
Have any of you visited this establishment? Don't worry too much. Not that I am a frequent guest of strip clubs (mostly because if i want to pay $20 to get into a place I want to have fun, not get groped by pudgy, unattractive women). By fun I mean be entertained in a non-sexual way, dancing, entertaining crowd etc.
This place is a hole in the wall...actually, a hole in the wall would be offended that I grouped them in such a category. I was there for the "Grand Opening" and was less than impressed with the staff than in any other club I have ever been in.
To top it off, the clown of an owner is in hot water with the White Collar Crimes Division for being a piece of shit thief. To finish up his ignorance he is in violation of a County Ordinance, what a dip shit...
So, if my sources are correct (and I'm sure that they are) this rats nest will not be an eyesore for the community for long. No need to jump the gun and conduct illegal activities like the CNVA, either Darwin's Theory pertaining to survival of the fittest will prevail or the Law Enforcement Agencies of the county with crush his hopes and dreams of being a pimp
Posted by: Allen | March 02, 2012 at 11:29 PM
Well for on Allen your a fucking idiot and you have no idea watyour talking about so learn your facts u ignorant fuck
Posted by: you suck | March 03, 2012 at 12:46 PM
Its complex with alot of sub agendas may be at work eg unified gov ie combine city-county gov or city-county law enforcement...while Wiles is a good sheriff, sheriffs are ill prepared to act as city admin depts etc re due process...a sheriff mostly respeonds to who yells the loudest etc whereas large cities have layers of boards and admin support...rural counties normally have state statues for the general peace and health, layering it down with city type codes will only lead to big gov and taxes...it may be a false flag, as one knows the county does all the extra it can just for county dog calls and yet we are going to expect it to enforce a 6ft feet for rural county strippers?Some feel the county is ill equip to even run a park or amusement stand...a false flag may be to jump in, mess up and then cosalidate all city-county to save us.
Posted by: Carl Starr | March 03, 2012 at 01:09 PM
I'm sorry "you suck" either you are the douche bag owner of this soon to be failed venture or the most ignorant person on the planet. Honestly, you could be both. Enjoy your orange DOC jumpsuit tough guy
Posted by: Allen | March 03, 2012 at 02:42 PM
As for my "facts", I am certain that the white collar crimes division is looking into the theft of thousands of dollars of furnishings and security equipment from an establishment that used to be on Lomaland. Additionally, the faggot owner hid behind his lawyer when the police showed up to investigate. So, which part of my facts are not straight? You lying, piece of shit thief?
Posted by: Allen | March 03, 2012 at 02:50 PM
What Davey KKK failed to mention on this ""blog"" (one set of quote marks would not be sufficient in this case) is that the REASON the evil white republicans (sorry about the redundancy) are shutting down this establishment is because word got out that I was hired to shake my indigenous MONSTRO cunning.
Posted by: Even Fakier Norma Chavez | March 04, 2012 at 07:19 PM