Pornography And Urban Renewal

A Baltimore columnist reports that "[t]he opening of Larry Flynt's 14,000-square-foot Hustler Club on East Baltimore Street last week caused a stir in the media and among politicians," many of whom did not want to see an expansion of business in Baltimore’s red-light district. "Slots, casinos, strip clubs, oh my!...I fail to see the harm in Flynt's new enterprise and, if it is successful, a bunch of copycat entrepreneurs following suit...if this new flesh emporium causes spillover business to nearby restaurants and hotels, what's the big deal? Understandably, this isn't the sort of economic expansion [Mayor] O'Malley wants to be associated with, but he has an entire city at his disposal for creating vibrant commercial districts..." Perhaps the city should stop worrying about Flynt, and focus on reviving its more legitimate, yet not as successful, major league baseball team.