Strip club employees, city strike $160,000 settlement over work permits

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? City Hall might make it rain for strip club workers who accused the city of charging excessive and unconstitutional fees for permits in a lawsuit filed in Fulton County Superior Court.
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? Rather than take the case to court, City Hall attorneys are recommending a $160,000 settlement with the coalition of dancers, servers, and managers. 
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? Before men and women can strip, serve drinks, or manage an alcohol-serving, adult-entertainment establishment in Atlanta, they have to apply for work permits.
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? However, the lawsuit alleges approval of these permits is up to city police and subjective. Cops fingerprint each potential worker and determine if the person’s past deems him or her fit to work in the clubs. ?

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? The plaintiffs in the lawsuit — three dancers, two managers, and a bartender — say the police are not held to deadlines when determining who’s a proper fit for the job, which means they can effectively delay permit approval indefinitely. ?

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? The strip club employees’ complaints mainly center on the cash they’ve been coughing up to apply for and renew their permits. City code says it cost $50 to apply and $300 for a one-year work permit. After that, the code says, each employee should pay $100 to renew the license each year. ?

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? However, the city has been collecting $375 for one-year permit fees and another $350 each year for each person looking to renew their adult-entertainment work licenses. ?

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? The Atlanta City Council Public Safety and Legal Administration Committee was scheduled to vet the settlement this week. Full Council’s approval could come after the summer recess. ?

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