Council approves stricter indecent exposure law

After a series of passionate speeches about the indecency of topless protesters, the blaming of women as sexual attack victims and the time wasted discussing the issue in general, Springfield City Council narrowly voted to implement a stricter indecent exposure law Monday evening.

“I suspect when somebody writes the history of Springfield about this particular time, that chapter is going to be titled, ‘The Summer of Our Disappointment,’” Mayor Bob Stephens said. “Because there’s plenty of disappointment to go around.”

Stephens was one of four who voted against the new law, as it passed 5-4.

Women are now required to cover a greater percentage of their breasts in public, and both sexes must cover 100 percent of their buttocks.

The city attorney, Dan Wichmer, has said the new law will not outlaw the topless rallies that started this discussion, because those are protected by free speech.

“I find it unbelievable that we are sitting here in City Council chambers discussing the issue of showing female breasts in public,” Councilman Craig Fishel said. “Since I’ve been on City Council, we’ve spent more time talking about social engineering and being politically correct in our community and not dealing with problems like hunger and poverty.”

He voted for the new law, saying that Springfield is a conservative community.

Councilwoman Phyllis Ferguson also voted for the new law, saying more constituents in her zone had voiced support.

But she said she’s much more concerned with the problems of poverty and crime in her district of northwest Springfield.

“We struggle to put food on the table and pay the bills,” she said. “One in four of the kids in our neighborhood will likely go hungry tonight. So please excuse me if I don’t have a lot of patience with this issue.”

Councilwoman Kristi Fulnecky said the advancement of women’s rights has come in other settings.

“Those fights have happened in boardrooms, legislatures, the workplace,” she said. “If you’re really concerned as one of our constituents, that this is a case you want to take up, I would really encourage you to get in one of those arenas and fight for gender equality.”

She voted for the stricter law.

Councilwoman Jan Fisk said she thought the rallies were “hideous” and was disappointed that the law was rushed without going to a committee first.

To rally organizers, she said: “‘Grow up.’ We have so many women that are abused. Domestic abuse calls are numerous throughout our city. Help these women.”

She ultimately voted against the new law.

Councilman Ken McClure, like others, bemoaned the issue coming up at all.

“I will support the ordinance because I believe Springfield is a much better place than this,” he said.

Councilman Justin Burnett, who proposed the bill, said that parents “have a right to be able to protect their children from these images.”

“The city of Springfield has a vested interest in preserving the city’s revenue by maintaining its family-friendly image, and a responsibility to ensure the safety of the most vulnerable among us.”

Councilman Mike Schilling voted against the new law, saying the current ordinance was working.

“I don’t anticipate a wave of people roaming the city topless,” he said. “I would prefer to stick with what we have, and that will work fine.”

Councilman Craig Hosmer also voted against the law, saying it was poorly crafted and wouldn’t have the intended effect.

“This ordinance doesn’t do anything other than make us feel like we’ve addressed the problem, when we really haven’t done that,” he said.

Mayor Stephens had the last word on the issue Monday.

He said he wished council could spend time dealing with issues like homelessness, child abuse and economic development.

He said he was disappointed in the organizers because of the protests’ timing and location, calling it an “epic fail,” because it didn’t achieve its stated goal.

He said organizers got their “15 minutes of fame,” but “have not moved the needle one smidgen in terms of equality.”

He also said he was disappointed with opponents, who used strong rhetoric to make their point.

“If we believe what we’ve heard, the sight of a female breast, either inadvertent or deliberate, immediately transforms men into raving sexual predators who rush to the nearest restroom and kidnap children.”

He said he was disappointed that Springfield was passing a law that seemed to blame women for the inappropriate acts of men.