Strip Club Gets License in Lincoln Park

LINCOLN PARK, Mich. (myFOXDetroit.com) - The race against the clock for a racy strip club is over. A new gentleman's club gets the green light from city leaders in Lincoln Park.

"Trash. Nothing but trash," said Tom Moseley.

"As long as they're obeying the laws and they're following, then we shouldn't have a problem or an issue with them," said Cliff Eberts.

"We don't need any more, pardon my French, garbage in my community," Moseley said.

Strip clubs, nuddy bars, or lovely lady lounges, whether you want to call them, another one is coming and it's called Hustler. Tucked away off Outer Drive in Lincon Park, we're told construction is a couple of weeks from being complete.

Some people in Lincoln Park call places like this a no-no, but, "It is going to be go, and we knew all along that it was going to be a go," said City Council President Tom Murphy.

However, things got pretty hot and heavy for a while when some City Council members were accused of stalling when it came to transfering the liquor license to Larry Flynt's Hustler club. Murphy says it was for good reason. They had some concerns over some of the items in the settlement agreement and wanted to make sure the rights of the people were protected.

"Our people elected us to put them first and that's our job to put them first and to make them safe in their own community," Murphy said. "Those were some of the things that we tried to iron out."

Which was part of the controversy that was resolved Tuesday. Four of the council members, including Murphy, were called into federal court and faced contempt charges for holding out on a deal that was already approved by the state. The judge said if council did not approve the liquor license at Tuesday night's council meeting, the city would be fined $12,000 a day until they did.

"They didn't feel harassed by that at all. They felt that they had taken the time to do their job as they should have done it and whether happens, happens," said Murphy.

Murphy was confident his colleagues would do the right thing. "I think it will be unanimous," he said.

The council voted 6-0 in favor of transfering the liquor license.

We asked Murphy if he wanted the Hustler club in Lincoln Park. He responded, "I don't think it's going to be good for the people of Lincoln Park, but they have a right to be here."

Murphy is not the only council member or citizen that feels that way. However, there are some people who are trying to look on the bright side, saying and hoping that if Hustler can bring in a lot of cash, maybe the city will have more money to spend on city services, such as police and fire.