Central Stamp & Coin, other businesses, complain about downtown scene

Modesto's downtown club scene has its drawbacks for Central Stamp and Coin, a 10th Street business that contends it loses out when bars close its street or promote rowdy events.

Joyce Whitehead, one of shop's owners, approached the City Council Tuesday with a litany of complaints. She said she has a petition and other letters from downtown businesses. I'm picking it up later today.

Whitehead told the council that people use her store's entryway as a bathroom, that her shop's window has been broken four times during downtown events and that her profits are crippled during street closures for parties like X-Fest.

"We constantly have human waste in our storefront," she told the council.

She took exception with explicit fliers for clubs that urged people to "go commando" when they're dancing, or to wear bikinis at downtown bars.

She said the scene "is benefiting the bars, the gang members that come down all the way from Fresno to Fairfield."

Her complaints resonnated with a few council members, who asked City Manager Greg Nyhoff to follow up.

Councilwoman Janice Keating doesn't like what she sees downtown.

"I just don't think it's conducive to business," she said. "I don't think it looks good. I think it looks like a police state on weekends" when officers close down down the main streets to keep cars from driving through the club scene.

"It's not a fun atmosphere down there," Keating said. "I wouldn't have my kids down there if it was the last place on earth."

Councilwoman Kristin Olsen asked for the follow-up, but wanted to highlight progress downtown. She said Modesto's reputation is improving partly because of the strides downtown has been taking.

This issue hasn't really come up at a council meeting since the electeds shut down Sin City on 10th Street last year. We'll see if Whitehead gets some traction.
- AA

disclosures: I cover City Hall for The Bee