THOUSAND OAKS : City Awaits Ruling on Adult News Racks

The Thousand Oaks City Council voted unanimously Tuesday night to await the results of a key federal appellate court ruling before attempting to abolish news racks selling pornographic magazines in front of the Thousand Oaks post office.

The ruling, expected in the next few months from the 9th Circuit appellate court, will decide the fate of a state law passed in 1994 which makes it a misdemeanor to distribute a publication including “harmful matter” by means of a coin operated news rack.

In the meantime, Councilwoman Elois Zeanah, who has led the charge against the news racks, said the city will begin requiring business permits for owners of the news racks.

“At least then they’ll have to come in and get a business license,” Zeanah said.

Many supporters of the move to banish the news racks came to the council meeting Tuesday night to voice their disapproval of pornography.

Karen McLaine asked the council to “meet the challenge to protect the children,” even if they fear a lengthy battle over First Amendment rights.

“We really have a responsibility as a community to make sure these publications are behind the counter and off the city streets,” McLaine said. “I think it’s real easy to say, ‘We don’t want to get involved in this issue,’ but in the final analysis, we have to consider the protection of the children.”