Bikini baristas fight against Everett’s tougher laws

Bikini baristas in Everett are suing over the city’s new crackdown on the profession.

The Seattle Times reports they also claim the rules discriminate against women.

In a suit filed in federal court in Seattle on Monday, a group of baristas claims the new rules that prevent baristas from baring skin on certain areas of the body violates their constitutional rights and will have a negative impact on the amount of money they will make.

Derek Newman, an attorney representing the baristas, told the Times the city is intentionally targeting women because the city “knows only women work as bikini baristas.”

The rules were passed by the Everett City Council in August.

Two bikini stands in Everett gained national attention when the former owner of several stands pleaded guilty to promoting prostitution and money laundering in 2014. The stands were described as drive-thru brothels. A former Snohomish County Sheriff’s sergeant was sentenced to a year in jail for assisting the owner of the stands — and the manager — in the illegal activity.

After the investigation into the stands, the city promised to take a hard look at how bikini barista stands are dealt with.

“We really want to make sure that we have regulations in place that make it clear for the owners and for the baristas themselves, as well as for the police and the community, what’s expected at those stands. What’s going to be tolerated and what’s not,” city spokeswoman Meghan Pembroke said at the time.

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