Thread: Iowans fighting against not being able to dance after 2am and getting somewhere....

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090713/...moines_dancing


Dance the night away? Not in Des Moines, please


Patrons at the Surf Shack night club dance Friday July 10, 2009 in Des Moines, AP – Patrons at the Surf Shack night club dance Friday July 10, 2009 in Des Moines, Iowa. (AP Photo/Steve …
By MICHAEL J. CRUMB, Associated Press Writer Michael J. Crumb, Associated Press Writer – Mon Jul 13, 10:54 am ET

DES MOINES, Iowa – Dancing the night away in Des Moines doesn't seem to be at the top of many must-do lists. Maybe because it's illegal.

An obscure city ordinance outlaws publicly shaking your groove thing in Iowa's biggest city after 2 a.m.

Few even were aware of the ban until members of the nonprofit Des Moines Social Club sought to hold an after-hours dance at their downtown building. They were told no-go on the tango.

"It's a silly law that shouldn't exist and the law shows we aren't keeping up with the times," said Zachary Mannheimer, executive director of the club, which is made up largely of artists.

Officials and boosters in the city of 200,000 who have fought for years to liven up Des Moines' sleepy image agree the ordinance should be repealed. A proposal to do just that is expected to go before the City Council on Monday.

The ordinance, which dates to at least 1942, bans public dancing between 2 a.m. and 6 a.m. Monday through Saturday. Residents must suppress the urge to Macarena in public until 8 a.m. on Sunday.

Any dance within the city that can be attended by the public, whether or not they're paying, is subject to the rule. Even venues that allow dancing before the wee hours of the morning must pay $200 for an annual license or $75 to host a single event.

The law apparently was intended to coincide with last call at bars and club, according to Assistant City Manager Chris Johansen, but police said they've rarely enforced it for years.

"The Des Moines police are not against dancing," said Lt. Mike Hoffman, commander of the department's vice and narcotics section.

Dance club owners said they'd welcome the change, but also believe many Iowans are likely to prefer sleep over late-night shimmying.

"I don't think it's going to change much of what I'm doing, but it's something that would create some things that are needed for entertainment and people," said Larry Smithson, owner of The Surf Shack in downtown Des Moines.

Liar's Club owner Jeremy Mahler said he'd have to evaluate the change. "It's something where we would have to weigh our options after it's done," he said.

Susan Ramsey, a spokeswoman for the Greater Des Moines Partnership — which promotes the city with the slogan "Whatever you do, do more of it in Des Moines" — said the city's move to repeal the ordinance is "indicative of the metropolitan area we are becoming."

Mannheimer, with the Social Club, called it "a step forward toward Des Moines becoming a 24-hours city.

Still, Des Moines is likely to remain a pretty peaceful place.

"I don't expect there will be an outpouring of events after 2 a.m.," Mannheimer said.

I guess it's been on local news,cnn,msn and etc... Seems most people think it's a little ridiculous...

Just reminded me of Dallas and our silly laws..

I definitely enjoy rolling into a spot at 1 am. I'm not 16, I don't need a fucking curfew.

Dallas gets all bible belt on you with that "we are as small of a town as we want to be" but they want the reputation as a big 24hour city...

I know a group of these people who are fighting this in Iowa and it's cool that they have such a since of community to come together and make people aware of it.. And fight it..

Originally Posted by MsLuckie leo

Dallas gets all bible belt on you with that "we are as small of a town as we want to be" but they want the reputation as a big 24hour city...

We all know. Hypocritical christians like to suck the life out of everything by imposing their morals and self righteousness on everyone else. I.E. Dallas City Council and TABC