Last year, Riptide touched on the plight of Cocodorm.com, er, which despite the use of "dorm" in its name it isn't collegiate housing. It's a site where Internet users can peer into the lives of men of color who live together in a house in Edgewater at NE 27th Street.
What's so wrong with people tuning into watching a group of men go about their lives? Nothing, except it sort of qualifies as porn since the men engage in sexual acts together and some people aren't exactly comfortable having that kind of operation so close to home, nevermind that from the exterior of the residence you'd never know what was happening inside. To quote Simpsons character Helen Lovejoy, "Won't someone please think of the children?"
The Miami Herald felt it necessary this week to bring up the issue again today seeing how it hasn't been resolved. Even though the city classified it as an adult business last year and order it shut down, Cocodorm fought back and filed a suit in federal court and has a good shot a winning.
Another Florida city, Tampa, tried to do the same thing with the site Voyeurdorm.com, but the site fought back and won by arguing that the residence itself is not open to the public and the only public offering occurs in the virtual space.
We can't help feel this is another example of the city not looking at pass rulings in order to avoid costly litigation.
