Supporters of Cheshire Bridge Road's popular porn palaces, gloryholes and strip joints take note: There's an online petition calling for the end to Alex Wan's efforts to push them out. The legislation from Wan (photo), the gay member of the Atlanta City Council who represents the area, would end a sunset provision protecting non-confirming businesses along the corridor and force them to relocate. And thanks to two amendments OK'd on Monday, the legislation is now more tightly focused on eliminating sexually-oriented businesses, several of which cater to gay customers. As opposition surfaces to Wan's proposals, it now includes an online petition from Sung Kong, who owns a body shop and car wash on Cheshire Bridge. Kong is seeking 10,000 signatures on the petition; on Wednesday morning, it had 132 supporters.

Imagine you’re living in a “round” house for over 30 years. Your parents have passed away and now you are living in it with your children. Then one day, your neighborhood started to change. New people were tearing down the “round” homes and building “square” homes. One day you get a letter that says the neighborhood association doesn’t like your “round” home because it doesn’t fit their image of the neighborhood; that it doesn’t comply with their “square” homes; that it’s bringing their property values down. They are not giving you a choice. They are simply saying you must move out in 4 years because you have lived there enough. You have no choice in the matter because the City has passed a legislation that says this action is legal. So without any compensation, you have 4 years to go earn enough money to buy a new home. You are not allowed to sell your current home because they are simply taking it away from you. It sounds unbelievable and there is no way this could happen in this country, right? Wrong. This is exactly what is happening to small, local, family-owned businesses on Cheshire Bridge Rd.