Township settles adult business case without taxpayer funds
On Monday, Oct. 5, the Township received the executed settlement from Route 70 Partners LLC to stop an adult-themed business from opening on Route 70 next to the former Ellisburg Circle. This settlement was negotiated by Cherry Hill’s insurance carrier, Travelers, and not one dime of Township taxpayer money went into the agreement.
After years of negotiations, the Township secured a deed restriction on the property to ensure that lewd or explicit material can never be sold at that location. Mayor Bernie Platt was glad to see the issue put to rest without the use of taxpayer funds.
“I’m thrilled that this settlement has been signed, sealed and delivered without Town Hall providing a penny of taxpayer money,” Platt said. “This immoral business was a direct affront to the integrity of the Barclay Farm neighborhood and our town’s values. I drew a line in the sand in 2005 and have not stopped fighting this deviant business since that time. This agreement represents the final battle between Town Hall and a business owner that invaded our Township under the cover of night.”
Moving forward, the Township revised its zoning laws in 2007 so this type of ambush by a purveyor of smut never happens again in Cherry Hill. A regulated zone has been created in an industrialized piece of the Township between I-295 and the New Jersey Turnpike.
susanarniold, 
erick panger, and 
Dustin Cushman 10:13 pm on October 6, 2009 Permalink |
This post infuriated me like no other on this blog, odd because the post before it tackled the same subject, yet in a much more professional stance. Perhaps the township needs to employ professionals who aren’t biased and derogatory with their words? Should the business owner in question here sue again for slander and libel I wouldn’t blame him!
The previous blogpost I had no issue with, though chuckled at the quote of the woman saying “I don’t think that’s the kind of business you want in the same place where children are playing.” Everyone knows where this shop was going to be, and if kids are playing there they are more likely to get run over by the traffic on route 70 than exposed to something seedy from the sex shop. Everyone knows the town just didn’t want a sex shop someplace viable, like on Route 70
However this post, unlike the former, enraged me because of the language used such as “immoral business” from our mayor as well as “purveyor of smut,” which I assume is from township spokesman Dan Keashen, given he made the same comment quoted on the Courier Post’s official story, minus the “smut” part. See http://www.courierpostonline.com/article/20091006/NEWS01/910060339&referrer=FRONTPAGECAROUSEL
I’m sorry, I thought I lived in New Jersey? Clearly I live in the bible belt. Clearly I live in Arkansas who tried (and I believe did) ban the sale of any adult novelties in stores. Here I thought the democrats were in office but really we have republicans on their high “moral horse” as usual. Shame on you all!
If anyone believes the town’s taxes won’t pay for this because of this post, well I have a bridge in Brooklyn to sell you. Anyone who has had any kind of insurance and is involved in any kind of high priced accident or indecent knows their insurance premium goes UP. Where is the money for that increase going to come from? Frankly I wouldn’t be surprised if Traveler’s (whom I’ve used in the past and would NEVER use again as an individual, let alone a TOWNSHIP) didn’t drop the township after having to pay for this. To be frank, and quote others’ I’ve seen on the courier post’s site, the township and their insurance should have had to pay double for spitting on the constitution. Thank you Cherry Hill for making me agree with Republican’s on this one!
Using the “we’re protecting the children” excuse is another bust. Anyone who has stepped foot in a shop like this knows there is someone behind the counter at the door watching everyone who walks in to make sure they are of age. Just like a gun shop. Just like a liquor store. Frankly your kids have a better chance finding “smut” on YouTube, which mark my words, they are!
Most of us also know any one of us can go to any number of regular bookstores in the area (hello Barnes and Noble!) were there is nobody guarding who is looking at what or even coming in, and find the dirty magazines on their shelves covered by cardboard, or go to the “Adult Self Help Section” and find any number of books on tantric sex, the kama sutra and all sorts of other “smut,” all with fairly explicit colored pictures.
You have in this article convinced me without a shadow of a doubt to vote independent or libertarian in the upcoming governor election as well as any further Cherry Hill elections. From now on, whenever I need any kind of “adult products,” rather than going to CVS, that certain aisle in the grocery store, or ordering online; I will go out of my way to give my money to the few remaining “purveyors of smut” in the township, before you run them out too.
erick panger 5:55 am on October 9, 2009 Permalink |
I too find it odd that “purveyors of smut”, “deviant business”, & “immoral business” were all used in that quote.
But you got to figure any township that lists the local churches on it’s web site is a little far right.
susanarniold 2:52 pm on October 18, 2009 Permalink |
I find it “odd” the the alleged civic association led the “fight” – How many paid members do they have? Its more like a shadow republican organization. Morhefel serves on the local committe along with shinn. These people will destroy the first amend.