Strip Club Pitches 'Pole Tax' for Education

MYFOXNY.COM - You won't find many businesses or people who support more taxes, but some strippers on Long Island and the club they work for do -- if the money helps schools.

Carmela Cioffi is a stripper and also a mom to a little boy. She says she worries about schools that are cutting programs because they're struggling financially.

Carmela works at Illusions Gentleman's Club in Deer Park, Long Island, where an idea came up recently: Charge patrons a fee of $5 to get in the club. Club workers say the fee could raise thousands, maybe even millions of dollars for public schools.

They are calling the fee the stripper pole tax, not only would customers be charged at the door, but the dancers who perform here on stage plan on donating part of their tips.

Illusions is giving the plan a whirl this weekend with an infamous guest to take the stage. Long Island Lolita Amy Fisher will take to the pole; the club says it'll take the money to the state.

But some are wondering if this is a publicity stunt. These dancers say it's all for education. In fact, they got the idea from a similar tax in Texas that has generated more than $13 million in the last two years to fund sexual assault prevention programs.

The governor's office said the so-called pole tax is not under consideration.