NAC Action Alert
HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, FLORIDA
May 6, 2003
| Click here for more important information at LOCAL ISSUES. |
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NATURIST ACTION COMMITTEE
ACTION ALERT
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http://www.naturistsociety.com/NAC/
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DATE : May 6, 2003
SUBJECT: Hillsborough County, Florida
TO : All naturists
Dear Naturist,
The Naturist Action Committee is asking for your immediate help with a local issue that may ultimately expand to affect naturists on a far greater scale.
THE IMMEDIATE THREAT
In an effort to create a much harsher local law for adult businesses in the Tampa, Florida area, David Caton of the Florida Family Association has crafted a proposed new anti-nudity ordinance for
Hillsborough County. Caton, an infamous and outspoken opponent of nudity, has prevailed upon a member of the Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) to introduce the measure and ask that it be certified for
placement on a ballot for county voters.
The proposed ordinance claims to be modeled after a similar ordinance in St. Johns County (Florida), but there is a difference that is significant to naturists. Instead of
claiming a "negative secondary effect" for nudity at adult businesses that serve alcohol (as the St. Johns ordinance does), the proposed Hillsborough County ordinance drops the reference to alcohol altogether and
focuses on the supposed inherent evils of nudity alone, alleging that nudity itself is responsible for "undesirable behavior," including "prostitution, attempted rape, rape, and assault."
WHAT IS NAC DOING?
The Naturist Action Committee has retained a local professional political lobbyist to assist the grass roots efforts of naturists. With the assistance of the lobbyist, NAC has contacted the members
of the Hillsborough BOCC in an attempt to prevent the placement of this offensive measure on a public ballot.
NAC has sent a position paper to each of the County Commissioners, detailing our concerns and objections to
the proposed ordinance.
Through a local attorney, NAC has requested that the Hillsborough County Attorney recommend a delay in the consideration of the ordinance to allow for further study.
NAC is coordinating its
efforts with members of Tampa Area Naturists, SFFB, AANR, and other concerned naturists and nudists. Not all of those involved are taking exactly the same approach to the problem, but the derailing of the proposed ordinance is
a common goal, and this is an instance in which there is greater strength in diversity.
NAC does not yet have the votes on the BOCC to stop the proposed ordinance. NAC is asking for YOUR HELP.
ATTEND THE PUBLIC MEETING OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
The regular public of the county commissioners takes place on Wednesday, May 7, 2003, beginning at 9:00 a.m. Consideration of this issue is
tentatively scheduled for 10:55 a.m., but no public comment will be taken at that time. General public comment is allowed during the first 45 minutes of the meeting. At the discretion of the BOCC Chair, and additional public
comment period may be permitted at the end of the meeting.
Meeting location:
Hillsborough County
Board of County Commissioners
County Center, 2nd Floor Board Room
601 East Kennedy Boulevard
Tampa, Florida 33601
NAC encourages you to demonstrate your opposition to this proposed ordinance by making your presence felt at the meeting of the
Hillsborough County lawmakers.
The meeting will begin at 9:00 a.m., Wednesday, May 7, 2003. Please arrive about a half hour early to assure that you have a place to sit. If you intend to speak, you must complete the Request
for Public Comment card located at the sign-up table inside the Boardroom.
WHAT DO I SAY?
You don't need to speak at the meeting. There will be plenty of speakers, including naturists, nudists, personal
freedom activists, and representatives from adult businesses. However, your presence as a naturist will be extremely helpful in distinguishing naturists as a significant voice in this matter. If you do choose to speak, be
polite. Verbal attacks on lawmakers are never productive, and even one misbehaving naturist speaker can diminish the credibility of us all.
CONTACT THE COMMISSIONERS
Time is short, but if you cannot make
the Wednesday morning meeting, you still have a brief opportunity to make yourself heard by contacting members of the Board of County Commissioners by phone or email. Details are included under LOCAL ISSUES on the NAC web site
(see below).
Contacts from local residents are most valuable, but political and business leaders in the the Tampa area recognize the value of tourist dollars. NAC encourages naturists from across North America to
register their concern with Hillsborough County lawmakers.
MORE INFORMATION
Additional information about the proposed Hillsborough County ordinance is available on the web site of the Naturist Action
Committee:
www.naturistsociety.com/NAC
Select ALERTS, ADVISORIES & UPDATES and then "Current Alerts" to find
this Advisory and links to additional information at LOCAL ISSUES,
including:
The complete text of the proposed ordinance
The complete text of the existing ordinance(s) addressing nudity
The complete text of the St. John County ordinance
NAC's Position Paper to the County Commissioners
BOCC Contact information (there's still time for calls and emails)
Talking points.
PLEASE HELP NAC HELP NATURISTS IN FLORIDA AND ELSEWHERE
The Naturist Action Committee exists to advance and protect the rights
of naturists throughout North America. NAC is a volunteer nonprofit
organization that relies on the grass roots participation of naturists
who understand that individuals working together can make a
difference.
NAC has no membership roster on which to assess dues, and it relies
completely on voluntary contributions from concerned and involved
naturists like you. Monitoring lawmakers across North America and hiring lobbyists is expensive, but NAC knows that it's necessary for the protection of
our freedoms.
Won't you take a moment to help NAC by sending a generous donation?
You may send your donation to the address below, or you may call
tollfree (800) 886-7230 to donate by phone using your MasterCard or
Visa.
NAC
PO Box 132
Oshkosh, WI 54903
Thank you for choosing to make a difference!
Naturally,
Bob Morton
Executive Director
Naturist Action Committee
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Naturist Action Committee (NAC) - PO Box 132, Oshkosh, WI 54903
Executive Dir. Bob Morton - <ctnudists@aol.com>
Online Rep. Dennis Kirkpatrick - <naturist@sunclad.com>
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