Letter to the Times Square Task Force to urge that special attention be paid to the implementation of the “Roadmap for a 21st Century Times Square” Report in a non-discriminatory manner

SUMMARY

The Sex & Law Committee wrote to Mayor de Blasio to express concern over the recently released Times Square Task Force report, “Roadmap for a 21st Century Times Square.” The Report proposes creating three “distinct regulatory zones” in Times Square and, as envisioned, the zoning plan would confine performers seeking tips to Designated Activity Zones, while speakers and performers not seeking tips would be permitted in the Civic Zones. The Committee raises concerns about the significant possibility of the Report’s zoning plan – although couched in gender-neutral language – being applied in a discriminatory manner, particularly since the Report appears to have been drafted as a response to the appearance of topless female performers in Times Square. The Committee urged that special attention be paid to the implementation of the Report in a non-discriminatory manner.