Nov 7, 2007 11:15 pm US/Central
Swingers Plan Party To Raise Money For Legal Fees
Reporting
Jack Fink
DUNCANVILLE (CBS 11 / TXA 21) ―
Tuesday night the Duncanville City Council voted to shut down a swingers club known as the Cherry Pit.
Now they say they have an additional reason to party.
The organizers hope to attract big crowds on Friday and Saturday night. They say they'll use the donations to build a legal defense fund to fight the city's ordinance.
On their Web site's chat room Wednesday, the Cherry Pit's organizers said they need $10,000 to retain an attorney who will help them fight to stay open. They said it would take 1,000 supporters donating $10 each.
After the ordinance passed Tuesday, organizers Jim Trulock and Julie Norris vowed to take the city to court next week.
"They will not shut us down. It takes ten days. We'll file an injunction and prove that it's unconstitutional," said Norris.
All along, the couple has insisted if any of the swingers are having sex in the house, it's consensual and nothing that happens is illegal. Police couldn't prove any wrong-doing because they only ask for donations.
With the new ordinance though, the city will shut down any private sex clubs in residential neighborhoods if they advertise or promote themselves. The Cherry Pit promotes their parties on their Web site.
Duncanville's city manager said even if organizers shut down their Web site, it wouldn't solve the problem. "It's really the activity," said Kent Cagle. "I think we'll still have an issue if they bring the same amount of people and causing disruption."
After residents complained, the city put up no parking signs in front of the Cherry Pit to keep the crowds away. But the organizers insist visitors aren't the problem.
"At 12 o'clock on Sunday, church lets out. They all flood the streets. They have to have police officers out on the street to direct traffic. There's a hazard. That causes wrecks. We don't do anything like that. We're not a nuisance... That's a nuisance," said Trulock.
City council members are expecting a legal fight and are awaiting to see what the club does next.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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