In late March, the Los Angeles City Council, in a closed session, voted 10 to 0 to fight the lawsuit after about 500 people, including prominent Chinese American leaders, packed the council chambers to express their outrage. Speakers condemned the nude club as a slap at the Chinese American community. Opponents have lobbied city officials and gathered more than 7,000 signatures in an effort to kill the project. That, the city said, violated an ordinance prohibiting adult entertainment within 500 feet of any religious institution, school or public park, or within 1,000 feet of another adult entertainment facility. 211 Alpine said the rejection was illegal because it had filed its permit application more than a month before the school did.
City officials say the school completed the permit process before the nude club.
The case is in the early stages with no trial date set. A principal of 211 Alpine L.L.C., Michael Criddle, is also listed as an officer of Deja Vu Showgirls and Deja Vu Venus Faire, both in North Hollywood. Hotelier Peter Kwong Jr., whose family owns Best Western Dragon Gate Inn on North Hill Street, said the unified opposition is a departure from tradition. At stake, opponents say, is nothing less than Chinatown's way of life. Until it's time for them to go to Confucius School, where they study Mandarin and Cantonese, they play or do homework at the shop.