By: Las Vegas Now Staff
One Henderson nightclub is fighting for the rights of underage teens. With little for minors to do in our 24-hour adult playground, Frozen75 is a nightclub geared to those underage. They say young people have a right to dance, in a safe environment, and parents agree.
But the Henderson City Council is questioning the effect on resident's morals. The story may sound a little familiar, after all it was the basis behind the hit movie Footloose from the 1980's.
Read the proposed ordinance from the city
Friday night for teens means getting to together and going out. Frozen75 is one of the few options for the 18 and under crowd, but soon it may be the only one as the city council moves stop the dancing.
The city elders reason the clubs “seriously effect the social and moral well being of the city.”
“It is better for the community. It is better for the kids that there are places like this,” said club manager Samuel Azeke. He warns if clubs like his are banned, then teens will be left without something to do and will create parties of their own.
“Some of the fliers, on there it will let you know that there is going to be drinking, there's going to be drugs. That is what they are exposed to,” he said.
Parents who drop off their teens are shocked the city council would do try to ban more clubs like this.
“I could see if it was not supervised, if they were proving alcohol or doing unseemly things, but it is supervised. They have curfew. It is perfectly fine as a parent,” said parent Jackque Wilson.
And just like in the movie, a showdown is planned for the April 1 city council meeting. These teens plan to be ready to take a stand.
“Show up cause we got to keep this club open,” said Devin Bailey.
If the city council does approve the ordinance, then Frozen75 says they will be grandfathered in, but it will keep any other clubs like this from opening in Henderson. The ordnance still allows some groups to have dances, like religious organizations.
Email your comments to Reporter Amanda Hernandez
The city elders just like to ruin fun. Any adult gets to go wherever they please, why not give the teenagers a little freedom too? The music scene is a big part of american teenage culture today but still authorities hate seeing kids having fun. If kids want to drink and do drugs, let that be their own responsibility. The city acts like they are in control of everyones life but thats up to the parents and children.
Comment by Sam — March 30, 2008 @ 6:47 pm
The kids in Las Vegas are seriously limited in there choices for evening activities. I personally checked out Frozen 75 before i allowed my children to attend. They are very organized and security is paramount. If any ordinance is to be passed, it should be on the operating rules like Frozen 75 has. Make sure it is safe for our children, and keep it accessible for our kids to have a safe place to go and enjoy them selfs, that parents support and approve of!!
Comment by Joey Biddle — March 30, 2008 @ 8:48 pm
IS THE CITY COUNCIL MADE UP OF ADULTS WITH NO TEEN AGE CHILDREN? TEEN AGERS NEED A GOOD DECENT PLACE TO GO THAT PARENTS CAN TRUST. AT LEAST THE PARENTS WILL KNOW WHERE THEIR CHILD IS. AS LONG AS THE KID’S ARE WELL SUPERVISED, I THINK IT IS GREAT. I AM A GRANDMOTHER AND WOULD THINK THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS WOULD RATHER HAVE THE TEEN’S OF HENDERSON AT A PLACE THEY WOULD BE SAFE RATHER THAN ON THE STREET. I WILL GO TO THE MEETING AND FIGHT FOR THESE TEENAGERS. I AM A GRANDMOTHER WITH TEENAGE CHILDREN AND REMEMBER VERY WELL WHAT IT’S LIKE TO BE A TEENAGER. DANCING IS GOOD EXERCISE. LOOSEN UP MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL AND REMEMBER WHAT IT WAS LIKE WHEN YOU WERE A TEEN. THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME EXPRESS MY VIEWS.
Comment by Louise Schumaker — March 31, 2008 @ 7:49 am
My daughter celebrated her 17th birthday at Club Frozen, and she and her friends had the best time. As a parent, I feel this club provides a safe, fun, and supervised enviorment for teens to go and be teens. Taking away these places will mean more teens being in unsafe enviorments while trying to have fun. What’s next, taking away parks and bowling alleys too? The City is really going in the wrong direction with this proposal, this is Las Vegas, not Utah!
Comment by alison gerstein — March 31, 2008 @ 7:59 am