SCOTTSDALE - Though they believe they will prevail, opponents of Scottsdale's strict new rules governing topless clubs said they are more than 1,000 signatures short of putting the matter to a vote.
"We're concerned," said Dave Rajput, chairman of Citizens Against Bad Government. "We need people, if they are interested in signing, to really step up and help."
Organizers need to deliver at least 3,384 valid signatures of registered Scottsdale voters to the City Clerk's office by 5 p.m. Wednesday.
As of late this past Thursday, they had about 2,200.
Political groups generally want a surplus of one-third the required signatures to account for signers who are not registered to vote or do not live in Scottsdale.
In a last-minute referendum push, petition-gatherers clad in bunny costumes will be stationed in front of Buzz Nightclub at Scottsdale Road and Shea Boulevard from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily through Tuesday.
Adult film star Jenna Jameson, co-owner of Babe's Cabaret, is doing impromptu appearances at Buzz to register voters and collect signatures.
Signatures also are being collected daily until 9 p.m. at Vegas Pawn & Jewelry, 1137 N. Scottsdale Road.
The adult nightclub owners sprang into action in December after the Scottsdale City Council unanimously approved tighter rules on the strip clubs, including a 4-foot "no touch" zone between dancers and customers.
The group hopes to make Scottsdale's May 16 election ballot.
