RSSA barista brouhaha
Mayor — and others — think they’re showing too much skinYakima Herald-Republic
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Watch video about ‘sexpresso’ stand complaints at Yakima City Council
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YAKIMA, Wash. -- A battle may be brewing over the growing proliferation of espresso stands in Yakima where the way baristas are dressed is as much a draw as the coffee they serve.
Mayor Dave Edler says he wants the city's legal staff to see if there's anything that can be done about the businesses often referred to as bikini bars or sexpresso stands, including one on Yakima Avenue in the heart of downtown.
Repeating a story he told the City Council on Tuesday, Edler told the Herald-Republic he recently got an eyeful while passing by the Dream Girls Espresso bar on Yakima Avenue, near the First Avenue intersection.
He said a female employee was standing outside the business wearing skimpy apparel he described as either a "nightie or a teddie."
"I'm really not sure what you call it," he joked. "All I know is that I'm thinking, 'This is Yakima Avenue.' It just didn't seem right to me. If I were dressed like that, I'd get arrested."
Council members were in agreement, hoping to see some research done on the issue.
Edler's foster son, Cesar Dominguez, a pastor at Franklin Hill Foursquare Church, told the City Council of a similar encounter he had a month ago while driving downtown with his 12-year-old daughter, Sadie, and 9-year-old son, Mason.
In a follow-up interview Wednesday, he repeated the details: That a Dream Girls employee was waving a sign at passing traffic offering Krispy Kreme donuts for sale -- and that she was wearing next to nothing.
"There was a lot of skin, that's for sure," he said, adding, "We had our little show right there."
The way Edler and Dominguez see it, bikini bars are selling a bit more than sex appeal and should come under purview of the city's new Adult Business Ordinance. There are believed to be two such businesses in Yakima and two in Union Gap.
"If they were selling magazines, they would be regulated as an adult bookstore," Dominguez said. "They're exploiting a little bit of a loophole in the ordinance."
The ordinance prohibits stores that sell pornographic videos, books, sex toys and other novelties from being located within 500 feet of schools, churches, public parks and residential areas.
It also restricts such businesses from being located within 1,500 feet of a similar store, and has further restrictions on signage and hours of operation.
"I want to start moving us toward action," Edler said, adding that he's been getting complaints from the public as well as the downtown Westside Merchants business group.
A well-tanned Dream Girls employee said Wednesday she was prohibited as a company policy from talking about her job.
Wearing high heels, sheer-mesh boy shorts and a sequined bikini top, she was busy serving two men at a walkup window and the driver of a big pickup in the drive-thru.
"Sorry, we're not allowed to talk to you guys," she said cheerfully.
In an interview later Wednesday afternoon, her boss said employees are not supposed to step outside the stand while dressed "in costume" and that any sightings to the contrary came at best during a one-time-only Krispy Kreme fundraiser.
Cheryl Clark, who also owns the more modest Mocha Tree espresso stand on Nob Hill Boulevard, defended her operation as an expression of American principles.
"I realize where Mayor Edler is coming from, his being a pastor," she said. "But on the other hand, there's a lot of people that don't mind it. I would say there's more that don't than do. It's a personal choice. Nobody's forcing these people to go."
As for talk of a crackdown on bikini bars, she figures Dream Girls would be grandfathered in for legal reasons the same way two adult-video stores were grandfathered in when the city recently adopted the new Adult Business Ordinance.
In that sense, she and the other existing stands would have the market cornered.
"Pretty much," she said, concluding, "That would be great."
* Chris Bristol can be reached at 577-7748 or cbristol@yakimaherald.com.
Dave Edler is becoming the Yakima Taliban. They're wearing bikinis. If you don't like it, don't give them your money. What will Pastor Dominguez tell his kids when they drive past Franklin Pool (2 blocks from his church)?
Report ViolationDoesn't Edler have bigger fish to fry than this? I'm not a coffee drinker (too sinful), so I don't have a dog in this fight...
Edler showed me his integrity and ethics when he sided with corporate pig wal-mart when the people of Yakima at forum after forum told the city they did not want a second wal-mart in Yakima. Edler played the role of Judas as his City Council sold out the people of West Yakima for 30 silver coins. He's nothing more than a mail-order pastor.
Mayor Dave probably doesn't go to the beach, where if he did, he would see the same attire there, only outside wandering around in plain view. Typical liberal viewpoint to want to regulate everyone's lives, especially their morals.
Report ViolationElder response was "I'm really not sure what you call it," he joked. "All I know is that I'm thinking, 'This is Yakima Avenue.' It just didn't seem right to me. If I were dressed like that, I'd get arrested."
Dave I hope you do not dress like that, rocks would be thrown, lol!
If that's @#$%, we'll have to close down every swimming pool and tanning salon in the city
Report ViolationI can't believe you censored a generic word for sexually explicit material. :-)
Report ViolationI think a lot of people here are missing the important part of this topic. Too often we get wrapped up in something controversial and focus only on whether it's right or wrong and not if there's a gray area.
I agree that these stands have a right to do business. I also agree with Dave Edler that the open view is inappropriate.
If ordinances are passed that essencially create "districts" for adult stores, how is it not hypocritical that these stands can operate anywhere?
I'm all for them. I'm not, however, ok with the one in plain view on Yakima Ave. What if I were to stop at that red light and my son or daughter looked out the car window and saw a woman dressed like that? What kind of example does that put in my children's mind? What kind of influence is that?
I'd prefer it if these "novelty" stands conducted business either more descretely or in areas that aren't on main stretches of highly travelled road.
Hey Dave why don't you worry about the Surenos and Nortenos gangs destroying Yakima with gang graffiti and shooting up our neighborhoods rather than these girls wearing bikinis. If people don't like it, DONT BUY YOUR COFFEE there! These girls are not offering lap dances, sex, or flashing so I don't understand how this can be call an adult business.
QUOTE: "If they were selling magazines, they would be regulated as an adult bookstore," Dominguez said. "They're exploiting a little bit of a loophole in the ordinance."
7-Eleven sells magazines like Playboy and Hustler so is our local 7-Eleven an adult bookstore?
Graffittibrad: 7-11 carries those magazines, but they are "hidden" away from young eyes, which is something that these baristas are NOT doing and that is part of my issue.
Craphaiku: My sentiments exactly!
I am in opposition to the blatant use of sex (to sell coffee) out in the open. The immodesty of their dress is something I prefer my family not be exposed too. Sure. It's a great way to discuss immodesty, but I prefer to do that when and where I feel it's appropriate - not on the street!
I, for one, am astonished that some many of you are sticking up for these places. Aren't we all trying to clean up the trash here in Yakima?
If we want Yakima to become a prestigious wine touring town, we need to get rid places like these...at least push them out of the part of Yakima that is being re-vitalized. Make them set up in the adult magazine store parking lot, where they belong.
I am astonished how so many people let a woman wearing a bikini upset them so much. Like I said before, if you don't like it look straight while driving past it.. if you don't like it, buy your coffee at Starbucks. Why isn't everyone upset about the group of gay men that gather on E. Chestnut Avenue between Front & 1st Streets every weekend night. These type of places are not new, they are all over Seattle, Tacoma, Everett and even in small little Ellensburg right off I-82. Pull up some crime stats these places are not making Yakima any unsafer. I would feel much more comfortable with this place on my street corner than your local gang member selling cocaine- Deal with the real issues hurting this community Yakima!
Report ViolationRead2Learn...
Of course we only want snobbish wine-drinkers frequenting downtown Yakima. There certainly is no peril to drinking alcohol is there?
"There must be some way out of here, said the joker to the thief, There's too much confusion, I can't get no relief. Businessmen, they drink my WINE, plowmen dig my earth, None of them along the line know what any of it is worth." (Bob Dylan-1967)
Wine/Alcohol does far more damage in this community and valley than a little cleavage at a coffee stand.
Read2Learn, you need to get your priorities straight!
It is a novelty to get people to thier coffee stand and the funny thing about it is look at all the free advertising they are getting.
I think that it is great simply because so many people are against it.
Read2Learn...
" Aren't we all trying to clean up the trash here in Yakima?"....
Actually...I'm more concerned with the trash in our current,(and past) Government. Having to explain to my 7 year old grandaughter what oral sex is when Clinton was in office was harder than explaining why these ladies wear scanty clothes while serving coffee. Explaining how and why a tax cheat is allowed to run our Treasury Dept, to my now 18 year old grandaughter is more challenging than anything these girls are serving up. We definetely have bigger issues to concern ourselves with...don't ya think?
At least they're all working, not collecting welfare. The businesses are paying taxes, not boarded up. Meanwhile the city revenues are falling and Yakima is making national headlines for crime statistics, daily shootings, 10? homicides so far this year and almost 15% unemployment. Facing this the Mayor has his fellow pastor and foster son come into a council meeting to criticize law abiding citizens for paying a wage and generating a tax. What will he do next, run private business out of town and take over the grave marker business? Oh wait...
Dave Edler for Congress.
To those who keep approaching the discussion on the 'better THIS than THAT' platform: nobody is suggesting that the coffee shop be vacated in favor of housing local gang-bangers, drug dealers or welfare recipients! This is not an either-or argument. Could it be possible that there is a connection between all of these decidedly family-UNfriendly activities? Look straight ahead and pay no attention as you drive by...really? Is that the best that we can do? Speaking up and pursuing change in this venue does not diminish the need to pursue change in any of the already-mentioned areas that are ALL negatively affecting our city's image. Would you tell those of us who are ALSO fed up with gang activity and graffiti and the like to just 'look forward as you drive by...?' That's the core of the problem - too many good people just keeping quiet as our city faces any number of challenges. So this isn't YOUR soapbox; fine, but don't throw stones at those who see this as part of the big picture of the quality of life in Yakima. Which brings me to my second point...
City leadership should be capable of MULTI-TASKING! I haven't heard anybody saying that to pursue more a more adequate ordinance (i.e., classifying and regulating these ADULT-themed coffee shops as ADULT entertainment) is to NOT pursue reducing crime or government corruption - although the corruption discussion is sure to take some extra time, in light of the recent release of emails regarding the city budget decision! Bottom line, though, is that business, crime, potholes-police-parks, etc. are ALL part of running a city. It doesn't sound easy or as simple as ONLY focusing on this or that; it's going to take a holistic view of family-friendly, as well as business-friendly, solutions. And for those who just want to complain about people who are trying to lead us toward a better Yakima, I say if you're not going to be part of the solution, then you're just part of the problem.
ThinkAboutIt!
Nick:
"Typical liberal viewpoint to want to regulate everyone's lives, especially their morals. "
What on earth are you talking about? The last time I checked it was the religious right/conservatives wanting to ban strip clubs, ban adult video stores, ban alcohol sales on Sunday, or anything else that might not be morally correct to them.
Go to Portland, Oregon which is a liberal city, there is a sex shops and strip clubs everywhere!
I remember when down town Yakima TEEMED with hookers! Those were the days!! This was a hopping, happening city with a future until folks "cleaned it up" and destroyed everything fun about this town. No wonder kids join gangs and do drive bys - these nothing else to do exciting around here.
Report ViolationWe have so many more important things to worry about in Yakima than if pretty girls are selling coffee in lingerie. Two blocks north of downtown there is so much graffitti that my son did a photojournalism assignment on it. It is absolutely disgraceful. I am surprised that the mayor doesn't have more important things to do than harass hard working,law abiding, tax paying citizens.
Report Violationok lets see, woman in bikini's selling coffe behind a four wall stand, NOT OK, Banners promoting alcohol consumption all through Yakima ave. Yakima says OK,
WIERD!
remember 1 glass of wine= 1 beer = 1 shot, alcohol is still a drug no matter what form its in.
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