Opinion ID: 1922564
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Important or Substantial Government Interest

Text: [¶ 25] The next inquiry under the O'Brien test is whether an ordinance serves an important or substantial government interest. 391 U.S. at 377, 88 S.Ct. 1673. The legislative findings of section 228-14 indicate that the ordinance is aimed at preventing the harmful secondary effects associated with nude entertainment. The findings state, inter alia, that such activities have created a tawdry atmosphere, adversely affecting the quality of life in Bangor. BANGOR CODE § 228-12(6). The City is entitled to rely on such legislative findings of fact. Pap's A.M., 529 U.S. at 297-98, 120 S.Ct. 1382. [¶ 26] Although the City offers no direct evidence to demonstrate that these secondary effects are a problem in Bangor, the city need not `conduct new studies or produce evidence independent of that already generated by other cities' to demonstrate the problem of secondary effects, `so long as whatever evidence the city relies upon is reasonably believed to be relevant to the problem that the city addresses.' Pap's A.M., 529 U.S. at 296, 120 S.Ct. 1382 (quoting Renton, 475 U.S. at 51-52, 106 S.Ct. 925). The nude entertainment proscribed by Bangor's ordinances in establishments serving alcohol is similar to the entertainment described in numerous cases and the City could reasonably conclude that the same negative effects would result. See Pap's A.M., 529 U.S. at 296-97, 120 S.Ct. 1382; Renton, 475 U.S. at 50-51, 106 S.Ct. 925; Young, 427 U.S. at 54-55, 96 S.Ct. 2440; California v. LaRue, 409 U.S. 109, 110-12, 93 S.Ct. 390, 34 L.Ed.2d 342 (1972). Thus, we conclude that section 228 serves important government interests.