Southeast : NEWSSTAND NUDITY

Concern over adolescent peepers has introduced a 1st Amendment quandary to Whittier officials as they consider regulating adult news racks in the city.

For years, city officials have received complaints about front-page nudity visible at 14 kiosks across the city. But the City Council has been unable to respond until the recent passage of a state law that gives cities some power to restrict the display of material deemed harmful to minors, Councilman Bob Henderson said.

Now he and the rest of the council are considering requiring partial blinders on adult news racks. The blinders would leave only a portion of the publication visible to sidewalk viewers.

While he and other council members have not ruled out instituting the blinders, Henderson said the possibility of a costly legal battle could undermine their efforts.