Another new tax idea for the Sam Rand Twins
A reader writes in to suggest that Portland adopt a new tax on strip club customers: A $5 cover charge, as it were, with the funds dedicated to raise money for testing of DNA samples from rape victims. They're trying it out in Houston.
Of course, with Oregon's no-holds-barred free speech rights to flaunt one's genitalia for pay, such a tax may be unconstitutional. But as the discussion in Houston suggests, perhaps strip clubs are the wrong target in any event:
A study Cohen relies upon to make the link states: "Are sexually-oriented-businesses, alcohol, and the victimization and perpetration of sexual violence against women connected? An exhaustive review of the literature says yes."Several paragraphs later, though, the same study states: "However, no study has authoritatively linked alcohol, sexually-oriented-businesses, and the perpetration of sexual violence."
Councilman C.O. Bradford also called the nexus into question. He said that according to Houston Police Department, apartment complexes are the most common location for sexual assaults, and that sexually oriented businesses are 10th.
Perhaps the fairest solution, then, would be a $5 a month tax on all apartment rents. How about it, Portland City Council?
| Posted at 9:41 AM | Permalink |
|
Comments (7)
Besides being unconstitutional, where would the city keep all those one dollar bills?
Posted by gibby | June 28, 2012 9:53 AM
As the Houston PD points, out people living in close proximity like ants in urban "high-density" environments is likely a contributing factor to these kind of assaults and others. In fact, I believe that's been well-known for decades from various places all around the world.
Of course, that fact flies in the face of the whole "new urbanist" real estate development scam.
Posted by Mr. Grumpy | June 28, 2012 10:33 AM
How about a $5 tax everytime a city council member says "sustainable" - and double when the mayor says it.
Posted by umpire | June 28, 2012 10:57 AM
Great Idea - in addition to taxing the word sustainable, every time the City Council passes a tax on to the rest of us they should be required to pay triple.
Posted by TR | June 28, 2012 11:42 AM
"How about a $5 tax everytime a city council member says "sustainable" - and double when the mayor says it."
Or LEED certified = $10.00
Platinum $15.00
etc....
Posted by pdxjim | June 28, 2012 4:15 PM
Or Public/Private Partnership = $1,000.
Posted by clinamen | June 29, 2012 1:03 AM
You would think that someday, politicians would realize that correlation ≠ causality.
A rapist is going to rape given opportunity, whether it's nearby a business that makes it's money by having people show their naughty bits, or nearby a business that makes it's money by selling fixie bicycles.
Posted by MachineShedFred | June 29, 2012 4:33 AM