Richardson City Council Cover-Up

In a move away from transparency, the Richardson City Council amended its city ordinances Monday night by unanimous vote, without deliberations. Despite paying lip service to the value of openness and transparency, the new ordinance not only permits cover-ups, it demands cover-ups in certain circumstances. This change was slipped into the city council's so-called consent agenda, in which items are adopted without separate consideration and without deliberation.

What is the council covering up now? After the jump, the details.

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Here is the consent agenda item:

ORDINANCE NO. 4027, AMENDING THE CODE OF ORDINANCES BY AMENDING CHAPTER 12, LICENSES, TAXATION AND MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS REGULATIONS, ARTICLE VI, SEXUALLY ORIENTED BUSINESSES, BY AMENDING THE DEFINTION OF NUDITY OR A STATE OF NUDITY IN SECTION 12-161, DEFINITIONS.

Source: City of Richardson.

That's right. What the city council wants covered up, nay demands be covered-up, is the female form. Technically, for legal purposes, the male form, too, for the most part, but you know what they really mean. Breasts. Female breasts. Female nipples, technically. Male nipples are fine.

Warning: what follows is NSFW. It's an excerpt from the City of Richardson's ordinances. Here's how Richardson currently defines nudity.

Nudity or a state of nudity means the showing of the human male or female genitals, pubic area, vulva, anus, anal cleft or cleavage with less than a fully opaque, meaning nontranslucent, covering, the showing of the female breast with less than a fully opaque covering of any part of the nipple or areola, or the showing of the covered male genitals in a discernibly aroused state.

Source: City of Richardson.

Where's the loophole, you wonder? Well, here's the extra sentence our city council members want to add to the ordinance.

For purposes of this definition, body paint, body dyes, tattoos, liquid latex, whether wet or dried, and other similar substances shall not be considered an opaque covering.

Source: City of Richardson.

Now, I don't know what triggered this. Has Richardson had an outbreak of body painting recently? I don't know and without any council deliberation, the council record won't say. But, don't expect the city to be hosting any Sports Illustrated swimsuit shoots anytime. Because in Richardson, cover-up is now the law.