Letter to a Constituent
I wrote this letter today at the request of a consituent who will be lunching with some of Utah's high-profile leaders tomorrow. Their object: to stop the spread of pornography. I hope the topic will also be of interest to readers here at the blog.
Dear Anonymous:
You asked whether American Fork has any programs in place to combat the spread of pornography. Let me answer by explaining the City's two lines of defense against this ill. The first is direct; the second is indirect.
Directly, the current City Council has done three things to limit the spread of pornography. First, working in conjunction with a non-profit group called Cities for Familes, we passed a resolution last September promoting child-appropriate standards within the City. This resolution is crafted to protect the City against first amendment challenges by encouraging, but not requiring, businesses to adopt child-appropriate standards for media on display. We felt this an appropriate step to take in a community where thirty-five percent of the population is under the age of thirty-five. Second, we passed an ordinance regulating sexually oriented businesses. First amendment rights do not allow us to prohibit sexually oriented businesses, but the regulations provided by this ordinance are so stringent as to deter such businesses from locating in our community. The third action is still in process. We have directed the Planning Commission to create a zone for the placement of sexually oriented businesses. When the zone is in place, sexually oriented businesses will not be able to locate anywhere in our community except within this zone. The Planning Commission is searching for a location that will be remote from schools, churches, and family-centered commercial activity. In most communities, the creation of this zone creates a powerful deterrent to sexually oriented businesses.
The second approach the City takes to address this problem is less direct, but more proactive. Our community values hold the family in great esteem as the primary defense against social ills. American Fork offers many programs that support the family by providing wholesome recreational, educational and cultural opportunities. These include everything from parks and recreation to arts, library and literacy programs. Youth are welcomed and encouraged to participate in our community choirs and art shows, our sports and recreation programs, our speech and essay contests, our library's "Teen Thing," and in our Youth Council. Taken as a whole, these programs raise the quality of life in American Fork and promote a sense of community and stability. My personal observation has been that, as these programs have grown in vitality, families have been willing to stay longer and provide more leadership in our community, rather than move away to other cities.
I hope this answers your question. Thank you for your concern about pornography and your willingness to DO something to combat it.
Sincerely yours,
Heidi Rodeback
Dear Anonymous:
You asked whether American Fork has any programs in place to combat the spread of pornography. Let me answer by explaining the City's two lines of defense against this ill. The first is direct; the second is indirect.
Directly, the current City Council has done three things to limit the spread of pornography. First, working in conjunction with a non-profit group called Cities for Familes, we passed a resolution last September promoting child-appropriate standards within the City. This resolution is crafted to protect the City against first amendment challenges by encouraging, but not requiring, businesses to adopt child-appropriate standards for media on display. We felt this an appropriate step to take in a community where thirty-five percent of the population is under the age of thirty-five. Second, we passed an ordinance regulating sexually oriented businesses. First amendment rights do not allow us to prohibit sexually oriented businesses, but the regulations provided by this ordinance are so stringent as to deter such businesses from locating in our community. The third action is still in process. We have directed the Planning Commission to create a zone for the placement of sexually oriented businesses. When the zone is in place, sexually oriented businesses will not be able to locate anywhere in our community except within this zone. The Planning Commission is searching for a location that will be remote from schools, churches, and family-centered commercial activity. In most communities, the creation of this zone creates a powerful deterrent to sexually oriented businesses.
The second approach the City takes to address this problem is less direct, but more proactive. Our community values hold the family in great esteem as the primary defense against social ills. American Fork offers many programs that support the family by providing wholesome recreational, educational and cultural opportunities. These include everything from parks and recreation to arts, library and literacy programs. Youth are welcomed and encouraged to participate in our community choirs and art shows, our sports and recreation programs, our speech and essay contests, our library's "Teen Thing," and in our Youth Council. Taken as a whole, these programs raise the quality of life in American Fork and promote a sense of community and stability. My personal observation has been that, as these programs have grown in vitality, families have been willing to stay longer and provide more leadership in our community, rather than move away to other cities.
I hope this answers your question. Thank you for your concern about pornography and your willingness to DO something to combat it.
Sincerely yours,
Heidi Rodeback
posted by Heidi Rodeback at 11:24 PM
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