City of Columbus

(Columbus)—Columbus City Councilmembers Michelle M. Mills and Zach M. Klein applaud the decision by state leaders to begin to take action to close a loophole in the state gaming laws that has allowed the proliferation of adult gaming parlors in Columbus.

The Columbus City Council has consistently taken a strong stand against these businesses, also referred to as internet cafes, believing the businesses are operating in a gray area of law.  In October of 2011, Councilmembers Mills and Klein led the effort to put in place a series of moratoriums on the opening of new adult gaming parlors in Columbus.  The announcement by Ohio Senate President Keith Faber that the Senate will move forward with a bill to outlaw these operations is welcome news to municipal leaders who have been urging the state to take action for more than a year and a half.

“These mostly storefront operations are taking advantage of people in some of our most distressed neighborhoods,” said Councilmember Mills, chair of City Council’s Public Safety and Judiciary Committee, who also testified at an Ohio House Policy and Legislative Oversight Committee hearing on the impact these businesses are having on Columbus.  “This industry is operating outside of the law and they need to be shut down, now.”

“It is important that we have a statewide standard when it comes to the regulation of these establishments so we can avoid a patchwork of laws,” said Councilmember Klein, chair of City Council’s Development Committee.  “This is not the kind of economic development we want to see in our neighborhoods and the state needs to recognize their role in creating safe and healthy communities.”

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