GILROY
– Swinging couples from all over the Bay Area dressed as ghosts,
vampires and of course, French maids, flocked to Gilroy Saturday
night to celebrate Halloween, but they might not be back any time
soon.
GILROY – Swinging couples from all over the Bay Area dressed as ghosts, vampires and of course, French maids, flocked to Gilroy Saturday night to celebrate Halloween, but they might not be back any time soon.
The controversial Forum Adult Social Club hosted its largest bash of the year Saturday night and into Sunday morning – an all-night sleep over drawing 80 to 100 couples at $75 each. But the club designed as a meeting place for partner-swapping couples and singles that has been operating illegally without a business license for the past two months will be moving soon.
“… yes, we are moving again,” reads a message to club patrons from Forum Owner Deena Luce on the club’s Web site. “We will let you know as soon as we know when and where.”
The Forum’s calendar on the Web site does not list any events following the Halloween party.
Although when contacted Luce would not comment on her club’s future, it’s almost certain it will not be within Gilroy city limits.
“We’ve heard rumors they might be moving, but I have no direct information that that’s the case,” said Gilroy Police Department Capt. Scot Smithee.
City officials have worked feverishly to expel the Forum from Gilroy since Aug. 16, when it began operating in a ranch-style home every Friday and Saturday night at 5400 Monterey Road behind the Zen Flower Garden. The club previously operated in unincorporated Santa Clara County outside of Morgan Hill, near Railroad Street and Tennant Avenue.
“If they’re moving than good – now they will become somebody else’s problem,” said Mayor Tom Springer this morning. “This is a family oriented community, and we want to keep it that way.”
The Forum was served with two more citations by the Gilroy police this weekend for operating without a business license – bringing the grand total to 18. Oct. 15 a not guilty plea was registered for the citation violations to a county superior court judge by an attorney on behalf of Luce and an employee of the club who have received the citations.
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.
A combined hearing for the citations is currently scheduled for Dec. 12.
“We will continue to watch the situation and issue the same citations (if the Forum continues to operate),” Smithee said.
In another effort to muscle the Forum from city limits, City Council unanimously passed an emergency ordinance on Oct. 7 barring sexual encounter establishments – such as the Forum – from operating within city limits. This does not bar all adult businesses, such as adult movie or bookstores, only establishments where sexual acts occur.
City officials have argued that sexual acts promote the spread of disease.
A temporary injunction hearing on the matter against Luce is scheduled for Nov. 12.
Ted Uchida, the owner of Zen Flower Garden, says he will be happy when the club goes away.
“Since they’ve come here we’ve become a laughing stalk; people knowing we are next to a sex club,” he said. “I will be very happy when they move, and I appreciate the mayor sticking his neck out to fight for us. I agree with First Amendment rights, but this is clearly an illegal establishment where she is making a lot of money.”
Luce has repeatedly stated that she doesn’t think her business should be the city’s concern, and that too big a deal has been made of her club through the local media.
Springer said he is eager to see the issue go away.
“Your (The Dispatch) columnists will have nothing to obsess about anymore,” he said this morning when asked what effect the club moving will have on the town.
“City Council spends no time discussing this matter until somebody asks us if we read about it in the paper.”
Councilman Charlie Morales said he believes the club’s move will be in the best interest of the community
“Gilroy will be better off without the Forum or any businesses of that nature,” he said.
Assistant Editor Dave Steffenson contributed to this story.
