Browsing Under the Influence, from the Netly News
********* http://cgi.pathfinder.com/netly/opinion/0,1042,1638,00.html The Netly News Network (http://netlynews.com/) December 16, 1997 Browsing Under the Influence by Tom Deerfield and Mark Dolley When Andre Khalifi and Chuck Haddad applied to open the CyberLounge in Fountain Valley, Ca., serving gourmet food with a cigar menu, Internet access and a full bar, they expected the community to enthusiastically embrace the proposal. Instead, their alcohol and Internet cocktail met with fierce opposition from local residents who saw the business as a potential threat to their safety. "How are we going to protect our women after these guys get liquored up, look at pornography and then roam the neighborhood late at night?" asked one resident at a public hearing. The Fountain Valley Police Department was worried too. Detective Sergeant Paul McGinnis -- a participant in the planning process -- was skeptical about "uncontrolled Internet access" from the get-go, according to Khalifi. McGinnis confirmed his concerns over the pornography question: "I've never actually been on the Internet, but my understanding is that you can get just about anything you want on there." [...]
participants (1)
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Declan McCullagh