Rotary Club Listens to Argument for Red Light District

(Memphis) Adult book stores, pornographic theaters and nude dance clubs aren’t the normal topic of conversation for the Memphis Rotary Club.

Tuesday, because of one City councilman, it was.

Over ice tea and roast beef, Memphis executives did not hear about what goes on in strip clubs, but why City Councilman Shea Flinn, believes they should all be in one district.

“So, what is your understanding of a red light district?” asked Reporter Sabrina Hall.

“I don`t know,” said the President of the Memphis Rotary Club, Buddy Adams.

The mostly conservative Rotary Club has heard the state of the City at its luncheons, about athletics at the U of M, but Tuesday members learned about Flinn’s idea that’s been tabled by the Memphis City Council until next year.

“What I am asking for is a committee to study it,” said Flinn.

Shea is hoping the City will consider a red light district in Memphis where beer can be sold and taxed, dancers can dance as they wish and police can patrol more effectively.

He says, right now, with clubs spread out across the city, the negative effects pollute many areas instead of just one, “You would want to do it in such a way that there would be a buffer zone between schools, parks, churches, neighborhoods.”

While Flinn says he knows a red-light district will not be coming to Memphis anytime soon, he wanted to bring it up for discussion, perhaps, get some supporters and bring a topic to the Rotary Club to remember.

 ”This is a good one,” laughed Member Fred Spikner.  “This is a good one.”