GILROY – Whether in incorporated parts or not, Gilroy just
doesn’t seem to play a good host
– at least for a sex club.
Whether in incorporated parts or not, Gilroy just doesn’t seem to play a good host – at least for a sex club.
After owners of the property where the Adult Social Forum Club has been operating for months were issued a citation for improper zoning last week, the club has decided to pack its bags – again.
In a letter to her club members posted on The Forum’s Web site, Club Owner Deena Luce said because of legal battles and public sentiment, the club has started searching for a new Bay Area home, saying its final party would be Sunday at its current location in a ranch-style home at 2670 Dryden Ave.
“As many of you know, we have been fighting a couple of legal battles to keep our club open,” Luce wrote. “Unfortunately, we’ve had a temporary setback which will keep us from hosting weekly parties until we come up with a new and completely drama-free location. We’ve been given the once over from local politicians, newspapers and neighbors. We know we are right, and we appreciate your continued support.”
According to Luce’s letter, the club has yet to find a new home but has scheduled events into March for patrons at a new location.
“Until we do find the appropriate place where we can operate without legal concerns (We thought we had addressed this!) and maintain the usual warm and comfortable environment that you are all accustomed to, bay area dances will be hosted by your friends at The Forum,” Luce wrote. “The last party for the current location of The Forum is on February 23rd. We’ll say good-bye to that location on that night (so don’t miss the party!).”
Hearing that the sex club was leaving their neighborhood wasn’t exactly relief for residents on Dryden – some of whom stay out at night to videotape people coming and going from the club in an effort to make them feel unwelcome.
“That’s what they say, but I’ll believe it when I see it,” said Frank Caliri, who lives near the club. “I won’t be celebrating until next week.”
Caliri said he was discouraged because the club could continue to move from place to place, making quick money and then moving.
“They can continue on doing this for a long time,” he said. “They should not be allowed in a neighborhood area.”
Neighbors have been complaining about the club since early December and have held meetings with county officials and written letters showing their displeasure with the club, saying it keeps them up at night and makes the neighborhood unsafe at night.
Last week, Santa Clara County Investigator Jim Lanz issued a citation for improper zoning to Ilyas Absar, the owner of the home where the sex club has operated since early December.
“I issued a single citation,” Lanz said. “But for technical reasons I’m amending the citation to include each date (the club was open).”
Lanz said it was the next step in showing the property owner that action needs to be taken to move the club out. Lanz said he wouldn’t give Absar another citation as long as he saw progress.
“I don’t feel like I need to beat anyone into submission,” said Lanz, who said he plans to continue to keep an eye on the activities at Dryden. “I’ve taken action. As long as things are moving in a reasonable direction, I won’t give out anymore citations.”
Absar and his attorney had begun steps to evict The Forum, Lanz said.
“He’s being responsive,” Lanz said about Absar. “He doesn’t want illegal land uses at his property, nor do we.”
Absar’s arraignment for the citation is set for April 1 at the San Martin County Courthouse, where he will give a guilty or not-guilty plea.
The Forum signed a three-year lease signed with Absar before moving into the pink, ranch-style home in unincorporated Gilroy.
The citations, unlike those given to the club in Gilroy, were given to the property owners instead of Luce. Penalties for the citations are $100 for each count, plus administrative costs at 180 percent of each fine. Additional offenses would rise to $200 and then to $550, plus the administration costs.
The Forum was ousted from its former home on Monterey Road in Gilroy in December. City officials and Luce seem to be close to settling the 20 citations from the city out-of-court.
Someone familiar with the negotiations said they were initiated at the request of the court and have hovered around a $1,500 fine, but are not final.
A hearing is set for March 10 to schedule a trial date for The Forum’s 20 charges of operating a business in Gilroy without a license while it operated on Monterey Road for several months. Court proceedings have been grinding since October.
Penalties for operating without a license are up to a $100 fine for a first offense, $200 for a second offense, $500 for a third offense and a $1,000 fine and up to six months jail time for each offense after three.
Dave Steffenson is an assistant editor for South Valley Newspapers’ Gilroy bureau.
