Stripper “Pole” Tax
Most people who go to strip clubs would rather not advertise the fact. They don’t want to be on TV, they don’t want to publicly rally for club causes, they just want to quietly slip in and slip out and go on about their business.
I say this because we just finished a shoot on a proposed “pole” tax in Pennsylvania. We managed to interview a club owner and club attorney and the state representative behind the legislation, but finding any patrons to discuss their support or opposition to paying an extra $5 to get in…? Not happening.
For some reason, the guys enjoying the midday and early evening shows in Allentown and Quakertown and Harrisburg, Penn. didn’t seem interested or motivated in talking to me, Maryam or Hollywood when we walked in. There was none of the aggressive “Hey, put ME on TV!” that we usually get when we show up anywhere with our camera and lights and microphone. Instead we got nervous glances and hunched shoulders and “what are THEY doing in here?” looks.
No worries. The compelling arguments from both sides — and the PICTURES — will tell the story quite well.
Rick Leventhal is a correspondent in the New York bureau, but has
covered stories in more than 30 states and 20 countries, from Aruba to
Afghanistan. He has also reported from the field for dozens of World
Series games! 
Another MORALITY TAX? Politicians need to get a life (and stop being hypocrites!) By the way, does this mean I’ll have to pay more to see Chippendale’s at the next bachelorette party I attend??
Personally, I have been to some clubs, and none have promoted sexual trafficing, nor have any promoted prostitution. If this “representative” wants patrons to pay extra, then he should push for people in his inner circles and the like, to pay more than they do, for things like services in any industry. People in his field and income level try and trick and force people in lower income brackets to do more work, with less training, for less money, and extremely far less job security. If he and his like want rediculous taxes like that, then he needs to push no less aggressively for his income bracket, not just in Pennsylvania, but throughout the country, to raise the pay, lock job stability and security, and cut down on the useless fees forced on the workers and employees. If he wants something this private, then he owes everyone it effects no less than job stability and written promises that legally bind him and those like him, to not being able to diminish the financial income of their employees.
$5!!! OMG!! Seriously? Myself, and I am sure other guys that patronize clubs like this will not see $5 as any kind of burden.
Grew up on Erv’s. Now Cloud Nine in Sellersville.