Pittsburgh police and strip clubs

[Aletheia]

Originally Posted by I_Like_Spam

The strip joint was there long before the two high schools in the vicinity, CAPA and North Side Urban Pathways, moved to the area.


If the schools had a problem with the facility, they probably shouldn't have moved there.


As far as the sleaziness and illegalities that may or may not be going on in there, its part of the scene that all of the workers there know about before they start at Blush. I don't think it hurts any of the ladies who don't want to engage in prostitution, I'm sure that a lot- probably most- patrons are interested in just a legitimate lap dance and nothing illegal at all. That doesn't mean that Vice shouldn't enforce whatever laws, just pointing out that public health is a concern but neither the school nor any pure as ivory snow strippers at the joint are innocent victims.

I would agree Blush was there first and should be left alone IF it was complying with the law but it is not. Prostitution is illegal and if two girls were arrested that easily, they were only the tip of the iceberg. Based on what is talked about on the street, prostitution and drugs have been a prominent feature of that business recently. If they want to run a business that allows that kind of activity to go on near schools etc., they should be shut down. It is Blush who chose to run a business allowing illegal activity.

If you talk to the guys in the parking garage, you might hear about prostitution from Blush has taken place in the garage. Should people going to the cultural district be exposed to that sort of activity.

Illegalities DID go on there. Did you read the article? A couple weeks before Blush was shut down for going over its occupancy permit by a large amount. If the club does not want to abide by the law, it should be held accountable.

[pghdude28]

If only we embraced more "libertarian" values, we wouldn't have this mess.

[gg]

Originally Posted by Aletheia

Prostitution is illegal and if two girls were arrested that easily, they were only the tip of the iceberg.

Who the heck are you and how do you know? Where are your facts? I get so tired of people stupid overreactions. It really did us well after 9/11 didn't it. Crawl back in your hole or prove it with facts.

[Aletheia]

Two prostitutes were arrested. That is a fact which was in the article I linked to. If you check the actions taken by the Fire Department, you will find Blush was shut down for exceeding its occupancy limit by about 80%. You are can talk to the people who work in the parking garage who complained to Blush about what was going on in the garage.

Do you know anyone with a connection to Blush? If you did, you would know how bad the place got before the arrests. I would not call 8 to 10 girls prostituting themselves regularly at the club an "overreaction". Do you think it would be safe to reveal sources on a public board?

[I_Like_Spam]

Originally Posted by Aletheia

Two prostitutes were arrested. That is a fact which was in the article I linked to. If you check the actions taken by the Fire Department, you will find Blush was shut down for exceeding its occupancy limit by about 80%. You are can talk to the people who work in the parking garage who complained to Blush about what was going on in the garage.

Do you know anyone with a connection to Blush? If you did, you would know how bad the place got before the arrests. I would not call 8 to 10 girls prostituting themselves regularly at the club an "overreaction". Do you think it would be safe to reveal sources on a public board?

Two people who worked at Blush were arrested and charged with prostitution, and the establishment promptly fired them. Whether the 2 accused were engaged in this kind of activity on an ongoing basis or not is not known either, and it certainly isn't known if this is regularly activity for others who are working there or may have worked there in the past.

Those are the facts, it wasn't 8 to 10, just 2 who are no longer employed there, and that case hasn't been proven yet.

If Blush were the corrupt organization that you are suggesting, sooner rather than later they'll be raided and multiple people will be charged, and the LCB will look to lift their liquor license- particularly with certain police brass not looking at the establishment that kindly. Until then, it would seem a bit premature to make broad accusations of illegalities against them.

[Aletheia]

Originally Posted by I_Like_Spam

Two people who worked at Blush were arrested and charged with prostitution, and the establishment promptly fired them. Whether the 2 accused were engaged in this kind of activity on an ongoing basis or not is not known either, and it certainly isn't known if this is regularly activity for others who are working there or may have worked there in the past.

Those are the facts, it wasn't 8 to 10, just 2 who are no longer employed there, and that case hasn't been proven yet.

If Blush were the corrupt organization that you are suggesting, sooner rather than later they'll be raided and multiple people will be charged, and the LCB will look to lift their liquor license- particularly with certain police brass not looking at the establishment that kindly. Until then, it would seem a bit premature to make broad accusations of illegalities against them.

Two were arrested but at one time there have been at least 8 to 10 girls working at Blush as prostitutes. At the same time the place was loaded with IV drug users. Anyone who thinks two arrests was all that was going on is very naive. What was going on in the parking garage is true. One of the girls involved was actually fired and hired back many times by Blush. Blush knew what was going on but looked the other way because they were making substantial amounts of money from those activities. Anyone with any connection to the industry in general and Blush in particular knows what was going on there. It is common knowledge.

[jay5835]

Originally Posted by Aletheia

Anyone with any connection to the industry in general and Blush in particular knows what was going on there. It is common knowledge.

Ergo, you're involved in the prostitution industry?

[I_Like_Spam]

Originally Posted by Aletheia

Two were arrested but at one time there have been at least 8 to 10 girls working at Blush as prostitutes. At the same time the place was loaded with IV drug users. Anyone who thinks two arrests was all that was going on is very naive. What was going on in the parking garage is true. One of the girls involved was actually fired and hired back many times by Blush. Blush knew what was going on but looked the other way because they were making substantial amounts of money from those activities. Anyone with any connection to the industry in general and Blush in particular knows what was going on there. It is common knowledge.

I don't think "naïve" is the correct word you're looking for. "uninformed" might be more appropriate, especially for those who don't patronize the joint.

But there seems to be a missing piece in your expose here.

The police commanders really dislike this establishment, in fact the City and Blush were involved in court. One would think that the police would raid a place so notorious and close it down if it was such common knowledge, like they did most recently at Levelz and previously at the big club in the Strip, Chauncey's and JK's over here in Lawrenceville.

[Aletheia]

Originally Posted by I_Like_Spam

I don't think "naïve" is the correct word you're looking for. "uninformed" might be more appropriate, especially for those who don't patronize the joint.

But there seems to be a missing piece in your expose here.

The police commanders really dislike this establishment, in fact the City and Blush were involved in court. One would think that the police would raid a place so notorious and close it down if it was such common knowledge, like they did most recently at Levelz and previously at the big club in the Strip, Chauncey's and JK's over here in Lawrenceville.

"Uninformed" is a good word. Most people don't know that most if not all strip clubs have some amount of prostitution / "extras". It can be inside the club or outside. It is a bigger problem with clubs which have private rooms like Blush and other local clubs. During the time before Blush was cited and shut down for the night for greatly exceeding its occupancy capacity, prostitution / "extras" were common. From what I have been told there were hundreds of instances of prostitution / "extras". For the most part the police in the City seem to have ignored prostitution in strip clubs. At one time Blush was known as a "clean" club but that changed and it was common knowledge among employees and management "extras" were going on regularly.

The situation with the occupancy sent a message to Blush. They purged many of the girls involved in illegal activities but two still were arrested. The word going around is many of these prostitutes are now working at the new Penthouse location.

[robrobrob]

Originally Posted by MDYinzer

Big, tatted up, bald bouncers. Like it's supposed to be!

This describes a lot of cops too.