AUG 26, 2001 from nytimes.com
Some Like It Topless, but Neighbors Want None of It
By JIM O'GRADY
Rick Jerothe, 36, lives in New Jersey and works on Long Island, and likes to break up his long drive home by stopping at Staten Island topless clubs. On Tuesday, he dropped in at Goldfingers, a new bar and club that opened this month on Midland Avenue at Patterson Avenue.
"It gives me a chance to relax and enjoy conversation with the women," said Mr. Jerothe, standing by his car outside the club as he prepared to complete his commute. "I'm not in it for the slutty stuff."
But Vladimir Klevansky, who bought a town house across the street two months ago, would prefer that Mr. Jerothe go somewhere else for conversation.
"This is a topless club in a residential area," said Mr. Klevansky, gesturing from his lush sod lawn toward the club's illuminated awning, which features a drawing of a bare-shouldered woman in a black bow tie. "For the kids, for us, it's very disturbing."
Mr. Klevansky joined his neighbors in picketing Goldfingers the first two Friday nights after it opened, and he plans to continue until the place closes.
The Midland Beach Civic Association has been organizing the protests. Yasmin Ammirato, the group's president, said the city should not have allowed Goldfingers to open next door to a home for the elderly and only a few blocks from a Roman Catholic church and Little League baseball fields.
"They belong in an industrial area," Ms. Ammirato said of the club.
But a Goldfingers employee who would identify himself only as Frank said the club was obeying zoning regulations by providing adult entertainment in less than 40 percent of its space.
"They should be picketing Mayor Giuliani," the employee said before ushering a reporter out the door.
City Councilman James S. Oddo, whose district includes Midland Beach, said clubs like Goldfingers adhere to the so-called 60-40 regulation to sidestep a city law that prohibits such clubs within 500 feet of a school, church or private home. Mr. Oddo called the 60-40 regulation a loophole that would be closed by a proposed amendment to the zoning law.
The Department of City Planning has already approved such an amendment, but the Council has not scheduled a vote on it. If the amendment passed, Mr. Oddo said, Goldfingers would have to move.
Some Like It Topless, but Neighbors Want None of It
By JIM O'GRADY
Rick Jerothe, 36, lives in New Jersey and works on Long Island, and likes to break up his long drive home by stopping at Staten Island topless clubs. On Tuesday, he dropped in at Goldfingers, a new bar and club that opened this month on Midland Avenue at Patterson Avenue.
"It gives me a chance to relax and enjoy conversation with the women," said Mr. Jerothe, standing by his car outside the club as he prepared to complete his commute. "I'm not in it for the slutty stuff."
But Vladimir Klevansky, who bought a town house across the street two months ago, would prefer that Mr. Jerothe go somewhere else for conversation.
"This is a topless club in a residential area," said Mr. Klevansky, gesturing from his lush sod lawn toward the club's illuminated awning, which features a drawing of a bare-shouldered woman in a black bow tie. "For the kids, for us, it's very disturbing."
Mr. Klevansky joined his neighbors in picketing Goldfingers the first two Friday nights after it opened, and he plans to continue until the place closes.
The Midland Beach Civic Association has been organizing the protests. Yasmin Ammirato, the group's president, said the city should not have allowed Goldfingers to open next door to a home for the elderly and only a few blocks from a Roman Catholic church and Little League baseball fields.
"They belong in an industrial area," Ms. Ammirato said of the club.
But a Goldfingers employee who would identify himself only as Frank said the club was obeying zoning regulations by providing adult entertainment in less than 40 percent of its space.
"They should be picketing Mayor Giuliani," the employee said before ushering a reporter out the door.
City Councilman James S. Oddo, whose district includes Midland Beach, said clubs like Goldfingers adhere to the so-called 60-40 regulation to sidestep a city law that prohibits such clubs within 500 feet of a school, church or private home. Mr. Oddo called the 60-40 regulation a loophole that would be closed by a proposed amendment to the zoning law.
The Department of City Planning has already approved such an amendment, but the Council has not scheduled a vote on it. If the amendment passed, Mr. Oddo said, Goldfingers would have to move.