Fulton strip-club ruling a blow to local titty bars

On Wednesday, the federal 11th Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta issued a ruling in a decade-old court case about nude dancing and, frankly, I'm perplexed by its decision.

First, a little background: About 15 years ago, Marietta passed an ordinance forcing its adult-entertainment establishments to choose between offering nude dancing and alcohol. Knowing it would end up in court, the city based its actions on studies conducted by municipalities in other states that showed a correlation between nudie bars and an increase in crime and a decrease in nearby property values.

The city ended up winning in court. Goodbye, Taj Mahal.

A few years later, Fulton County decided to follow suit, but reasoned that it could make an even stronger case by conducting its own local study showing the link between nude dancing, booze and crime. Problem is, the finished study showed precisely the opposite — namely, that there was less crime immediately around strip clubs because they typically have on-site security. Oops.

Fulton did a second study, which confirmed the findings of the first; then a third study, which county officials tried to bury because they didn't like those results, either.

For years now, the county has fought a winless battle in court — specifically, Fulton Superior and Georgia's Northern District federal — to have its own studies disregarded. Until now.