Storming City Hall
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Updated: 2:36 PM Oct 23, 2007
Storming City Hall
Staunton, Va.
The Citizens Task Force made its plan Monday night to try to prevent more adult stores from coming to the Queen City.
Posted: 7:41 AM Oct 23, 2007
Reporter: Keith Jones
Email Address: kjones@whsv.com
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The Citizens Task Force made its plan Monday night to try to prevent more adult stores from coming to the Queen City.

The Task Force says the Valley and After Hours Video don't mix, but after almost two weeks of being open, sales at the adult store may show just the opposite.

"We do not want their business in our city," says Andrea Oakes, C.T.F.

She has said it before, but the Task Force isn't giving up. They're getting ready.

Oakes says, "What we are going to do is basically storm City Hall. We want to have several hundreds of people to attend the November 8th meeting."

In the next few weeks, the group will spread the word.

"Pornography and the Valley do not mix," says Oakes. "People come to the Valley for our history, for our beauty, and right now, for our fall foliage. They do not come for pornography."

However, the business isn't doing badly. After Hours Video owner Rick Krial was unavailable for comment, but store managers say that so far, it's one of his best businesses in the state.

According to employees, after 12 days of being open, more than 375 customers have visited, and more than 130 of them have signed a petition inside the store protecting its First amendment rights.

"That's fine they have the right to obtain signatures on a petition. We have over 3,000 signatures," says Oakes.

Judy Turner cares most about the neighboring children.

"I have noticed in going past the store, a few cars there, but it doesn't appear to me that it does have a huge business there," says Turner.

Staunton City Council decided to postpone the vote on the adult store ordinance to November 8. Oakes says the City Attorney is taking every step possible, hoping to ensure that the ordinance is sound.


Latest Comments

Posted by: seen it Location: Augusta County on Nov 7, 2007 at 05:23 PM

I do not agree with the business, however I would like to know how the man could be given a business license by the city if his business was illegal within the city. Also, experience says that Ray Robertson has charged him with felonies, but he will reduce them to simple misdemeanors in hopes that he will plead guilty. That way Ray gets his convictions and his record looks good.
Posted by: Denise Location: Verona on Nov 5, 2007 at 06:08 PM

Our church did not pass out petitions to be signed during service, and I can't imagine others doing so. We made the petitions available to those who wanted to sign, and offered extra copies to be taken home for family, friends & neighbors to sign. If someone felt they had to sign due to feeling 'pressured', especially in church, may want to ponder how God would see it. Also, so many people seem to be most concerned this type of business bringing the pedifiles out of the wood work. As I understand it, child porn is not allowed to be sold in these types of businesses. The bigger concern should be that these businesses make it easier for anyone to get porn, like the dad next door, and then the children, & teens, in the home can get their hands on it. Stop these businesses in our area simply to stop the easy access to this type of material. It ruins marriages, the integrity and character of people and whole communities. The condition of our world depends on integrity, character & values.
Posted by: Poppa Location: Staunton on Nov 3, 2007 at 06:07 PM

It has just recently come to my attention the methods these people are using to get their 3000 signatures. Evidently they are passing this petition out in local churches. When you are setting in the middle of a congregation in church you tend to feel obligated to sign something like this whether you agree with it or not. My own parents have signed it and now admit that they wish they hadn't because they don't really agree with putting the man out of business for something like this.
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