Battle Brews Over Washington's Bikini-Clad Baristas

[momopi]

http://www.knbc.com/news/16338938/detail.html (video and photos avail @ URL)

Battle Brews Over Washington's Bikini-Clad Baristas

POSTED: 8:34 am PDT May 20, 2008
UPDATED: 8:48 am PDT May 20, 2008

BONNEY LAKE, Wash. -- Some baristas will soon be the target of a protest because of what they're wearing - or what they're not wearing.

Some people in Bonney Lake, Wash., aren't happy about the baristas' bikinis and skimpy outfits.

Bikini-clad baristas are popular and have popped up all over Western Washington. At Cowgirls Espresso in Bonney Lake, business has never been better.

The baristas wear bikinis, nothing different than what you see at the beach, employees said.

But one Bonney Lake mother said she was outraged when she saw a barista without a bikini at all.

"All of a sudden, my kids that were in the back of my car said: 'Mom, there is a naked lady!'" said Tawnya McLavey.

She said inside Hot Chick-a-Latte was a pasties-clad barista serving coffee.

That's why she is organizing a protest in Bonney Lake this Memorial Day weekend. She said she wants to send a message.

McLavey even called Bonney Lake police to complain, but they said there's nothing they can do. As long as the appropriate body parts are covered, it isn't considered indecent exposur