EDISON — from www.mycentraljersey.com – Despite efforts by township officials to prevent a controversial sex-industry convention from coming to town for the second year in a row, the event is set for a weekend opening at the New Jersey Expo Center in Raritan Center.
Named the Exxxotica Expo, the event is billed as the largest adult consumer show in the country and will host over 100 adult film and Internet stars.
The administration’s efforts to stop the event included forwarding a resolution to the Township Council to amend current zoning laws. The amendment, adopted by the council two weeks ago, called for prohibiting any shows or sale of sexually oriented products in gatherings of 100 or more people at any place located within 1,000 feet of a place of public worship, school, playground, hospital or any child care center, or an area zoned for residential use.
That effort, however, did not produce the desired result.
“It turns out that the Expo Center is not within 1,000 feet of any of those things mentioned in the ordinance,” said Daniel Adams, a spokesperson for Victory Tradeshow Management, the producers of the convention.
“The township was informed by Summit Associates (which owns and manages the Expo Center) that the local law that was adopted by the council does not apply,” said township spokesman Jerry Barca. “This does not change the township’s policy position on the event,” he added.
Officials at Summit Associates did not return calls seeking comment.
Adams said this year’s event is planned on a much grander scale and will occupy a larger space at the Expo Center, compared to last year.
“Even in a down economy, the response from exhibitors and fans has been amazing,” he said.
Tickets are priced at $50 a day.
Last year, the convention was relocated at the last minute to the New Jersey Convention and Exposition Center in Edison after it encountered strong opposition and the threat of legal action from officials in Secaucus, where the event was originally scheduled to be held at the Meadowlands.
The convention is scheduled for Sept. 25 to 27.