| Blumer says porn taints Yahoo deal 04/13/2001 By Gromer Jeffers Jr. / The Dallas Morning News A Dallas City Council member, saying she was concerned about Yahoo Inc.'s "decision to market pornography over the Internet," asked the city attorney Thursday to see if Dallas can get out of a deal to give the company tax abatements.
Donna Blumer said Yahoo's move to allow online sales of adult entertainment products puts the city in an "unseemly and embarrassing position."
Yahoo is set to receive about $2.5 million in tax abatements over 10 years, Ms. Blumer said. The deal was struck to keep Yahoo Broadcast in Deep Ellum.
"This clearly puts us in a position where we're subsidizing their move into the world of pornography," Ms. Blumer said.
Jackson Holtz of Yahoo said in a written statement Thursday: "Under stringent control, adult products have been available through Yahoo! Shopping for more than two years. To enter the area containing adult products, users have always needed to enter a credit card to verify their age."
City Attorney Madeleine Johnson could not be reached for comment Thursday. Cancellation of the Yahoo abatement would have to be approved by the City Council.
Ms. Blumer said it may be impossible to rescind the tax breaks, but "I am willing to give it a try."
Last year, City Council member John Loza questioned whether the city should award a cable franchise to AT&T, since the company offers, among other services, pay-for-view adult movies. The council awarded the franchise.
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