Public debate drove American House story

An advertised swingers’ party scheduled for July 19 at the American House Hotel in Hamburg was canceled almost as soon as our report on the controversy surrounding it in The Hamburg Area Item had gone to press Monday.

A website for the Berks Area Lifestylers, the group who had scheduled the party, blamed the newspaper in part for their decision to call off the event:

This is for YOUR protection, and for the American House's protection. It seems that SOMEONE had informed the Borough Council, the local paper and the local news media of our party, and the council decided they wanted to have a State Trooper posted inside the bar to "monitor" our party. Also, with the media being made aware of the party, we are sure that hey would be posted OUTSIDE of the bar with cameras.

As we have ALWAYS felt that our guests' privacy is of the UTMOST importance, and that we do not want to have the owner/workers of the bar to have to undergo any undue stress, we felt that our only option was to cancel this party for the benefit of all ... We apologize to everyone for this."

In fact, the decision to print anything about the party in our paper was not an easy one.

In the end, our decision to intrude and report on an essentially private event was driven by Hamburg borough council president Tammy Wilkinson who made the party and her opposition to it an issue of public debate.

In a response to criticism from Wilkinson run in its entirety in our story, American House Hotel owner Christopher Madara explained:

The American House Hotel is happy to be in Hamburg. The people of this town have shown such support for the local business men and women, especially myself. The town has shown me that an entrepreneur like myself can conduct an honest business and not intrude on people's privacy.

I have booked several parties at my hotel. They range from Christmas parties, wedding receptions, wedding rehearsal dinners, class reunions, baby showers, bridal showers and occasionally a private party. For each affair my staff will accommodate each guest to the best of our abilities. We will not violate anyone's privacy, because that is against the law and as such we will not tolerate any guests that choose to break any laws of the local, state or federal governments. The public, whatever their personal preferences may be, are welcome at our establishment as long as they can follow these rules.

Whether a private party at a local hotel or the business practices of any other local entrepreneur should be regularly scrutinized and perhaps even attacked by local elected officials is something for voters to decide.

It is the job of newspapers to see they have the knowledge with which to make those decisions.