Staff editorial
May 1, 2002
Dancing with the Devil
Dance is a threat to our youth, and it is our politicians' job to keep us all on the path of righteousness. Either that, or our current batch of city politicians is too scared to do the right thing and allow teens to dance in public.
The lawsuit filed by the Joint Artists and Music Promotions Committee (JAMPAC) against the City of Seattle over the much-hated Teen Dance Ordinance (TDO) has been decided in the city's favor. Under the ruling by U.S. District Judge Robert Lasnik, Seattle has the constitutional authority to regulate dance. Unless and until the Mayor and City Council can agree on changes in the law, the TDO will continue to be enforced as is, preventing teens and adults from dancing in clubs together and placing other onerous restrictions on dance promoters.
As even Judge Lasnik seems to agree, the TDO is an anachronistic restriction on youth that should be changed. "All of the various interest groups -- especially Seattle's teenagers -- deserve better from their elected officials," Lasnik wrote in his ruling, placing responsibility with Seattle's elected officials to resolve the issue. A veto-proof majority of seven City Council members passed an all-ages ordinance to overturn the TDO in 2000, but backed off when then-Mayor Paul Schell vetoed the measure.
Now council members are pledging again to do something about the TDO. Perhaps more young people should get involved in voting and lobbying with JAMPAC and let these politicians know their jobs are on the line if they lose their nerve again. We can't allow older voters' nervousness about the potential evils of dancing to set policy for us. Effectively banning dance is not the best way to protect our city's youth.
Contact information for the Seattle City Council is at www.cityofseattle.net/council. The JAMPAC Web site is at www.jampac.com/.
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