Houston pole tax
Houston pole tax,The city of Houston has turned to a somewhat unorthodox source of revenue to finance the analysis of r*pe kits taken from victims, of which the Houston Police Department has a backlog of about 6,000, according to the Wall Street Journal.
Houston strip clubs to be taxedAccording to the Wall Street Journal, st*ip clubs in Houston will be assessed a $5 per visitor fee, called in the vernacular a "pole tax" to finance the testing of rape kits. This is on top of a $5 per visitor fee assessed by the state of Texas, part of which also goes to financing the testing of rape kits.
The rape kit backlog
The backlog of rape kits has been an ongoing problem at the Houston Police crime lab, which the Houston Chronicle reports has been plagued with problems and scandal for years. The law firm of Tad Nelson and Associates suggests that the backlog has caused problems not only for rape victims, but defendants for whom the DNA evidence may be exculpatory. A r*pe kit generally contains swabs, hair samples, nail cuttings, blood, and clothing taken during a hospital r*pe examination. Reasons given for not testing a r*pe kit include instances when a suspect has not been identified, the prosecutor has not requested a test, the victim has chosen not to prosecute, or police investigators are uncertain whether it contains useful information.
Why st*ip clubs are being singled out for a tax
The Wall Street Journal quotes supporters of the new pole tax, including Houston Mayor Annise Parker, that s*rip clubs tend to foster unhealthy attitudes toward women which in return can lead to sexual assaults. Hence, strip clubs should shoulder the burden of testing the backlog of rape kits.
Experts disagree on the connection of s*xual oriented businesses and s*xual assault
The Wall Street Journal goes on to quote a variety of experts who dispute the notion that s*rip club and other s*xual-oriented businesses foster s*xual violence. The University of Texas at Austin published a report in 2009 that found no study suggesting a connection between alcohol, s*xual oriented businesses, and violence.
How st*rip clubs have reacted to the pole tax
Owners of Houston st*ip clubs, of which 30 would be subject to the new tax, according to the Wall Street Journal, are not happy about the tax or the implication that their clients, mostly male, are potential rapists. One member of the Houston City Council, Jack Christie, who supported the new tax is unimpressed, noting the number of large denomination bills that get spent on tips for exotic dancers.
source: yahoo