By: Danny Aaronson and Jaime Benjamin
The Ohio legislature passed a draconian bill that will affect the adult industry in that State to the extent that it threatens its survival. Just a few weeks ago the New Jersey Assembly (the New Jersey Senate has yet to vote on it) passed the law that if passed by the senate and signed by the governor of New Jersey, would virtually make it cost prohibitive for adult entertainment establishments to stay in business. Last month, although the bill died in committee, a proposal was before the Florida House of Representatives that would have had amazingly detrimental effects on the adult entertainment industry in Florida. The sponsor of the bill promises to bring it up again at the next legislative session.
The bottom line is that the enemies of adult entertainment and First Amendment freedoms are strong, savvy and have political connections. They are determined to take away your freedoms your rights and your enjoyment. Only, a concerted effort, a unified team, and an industry-wide desire in the state of Florida by adult establishments of all types can thwart the attacks on our industry.
In the past we have asked for donations from the industries. In the past we have asked you to join organizations such as FL SEA. Some of you have stepped up to the plate and have joined and donated money when we need it, most of you have not.
Some of you have espoused that you do not like to join organizations. Some of you just sit back and let the bigger guys, the ones with a lot of clubs or a lot of money to do the fight. Some of you have that constant refrain of “I’m just the little guy, I can’t afford it”. Some of you have pledged to donate money and get involved and for one reason or another have failed to do so. The end result is that not enough of you are involved, not enough of you have donated money, and not enough of you are taking this matter seriously.
There is an all out war in this country and this was has spread to Florida against our way of life.
There are groups out there whose sole existence is putting you out of existence. There are groups out there that go to churches and other religious organizations drumming up support, getting donations and then speak to our elected officials with all that money and clout in back of them. The elected officials who never are friends of ours, get steamed rolled by this onslaught from all our adversaries and bend and eventually cave in to them.
It is time that the state of Florida with all the adult entertainment businesses located here to fight back. The only way for us to fight back is to unite. The FL SEA is our best and our last chance for success.
Regardless of your political affiliation. Regardless if you’re a big or small club. Regardless of who you are and what you are, your active involvement and your donations are essential. FL SEA needs money for lobbyist to be in Tallahassee, to keep ears and eyes open when our industry is attacked. We need a war chest to be able to go into action when these threats arrive, and they will. We need to be well funded. We need to be organized and we need to be well connected, and we need to be able to talk to those people who make the laws. We cannot implore you enough to join FL SEA.
We cannot implore you enough to take out your check books and pay those dues and give donations. We cannot implore you enough that now is the time to stand up and be counted, because if you wait much longer there might not be anybody else around to do the counting.
Benjamin & Aaronson can be reached at:
One Financial Plaza
100 S.E. 3rd Ave
Ft Lauderdale FL 33394
Phone: 954-779-1700
Fax: 954-779-1771
