PLAINFIELD, Ind. — from www.theindychannel.com – A business owner filed a federal lawsuit against Plainfield, claiming that her window displays are being censored by the town’s planning and zoning director.
The town said Trisha Elhossainy, owner of Trisha’s Treasures, isn’t breaking any laws or town ordinances but that some of her window displays are borderline risqué, 6News’ Rick Hightower reported.
The American Civil Liberties Union of Indiana filed the complaint in federal court on behalf of the boutique owner, who said she felt her rights were violated.
“They told me if I didn’t take it out of the window that he would reclassify me as in the adult entertainment industry and could shut me down,” Elhossainy said.
The store displayed blankets that depicted women in string bikinis and others that showed marijuana leaves on a cartoon figure’s breasts. It’s location, across from Town Hall, certainly raised eyebrows.
“She’s not breaking any laws,” said Joe James, the town’s director of planning and zoning. “The location makes a difference. She’s in the middle of town center. We have school buses go by. They stop at the light. They look right into her window.”
Residents didn’t seem to be too concerned about what Elhossainy puts in her store window.
“I don’t think too much of it, looks kind of tacky to me,” said one woman who looked in the window as she passed.
“There’s no pornographic images. They’re just advertisements,” said customer Jennifer Nessle.
Elhossainy said customers are buying the items that she’s promoting.
“They sell three times as fast than if I were to put a flower blanket in the window,” she said.