HUDSON, Ohio — Hudson Mayor Craig Shubert's bizarre comments about ice fishing and shanties potentially leading to prostitution has caused one local restaurant to get creative.
Hudson's Restaurant & Catering announced on Friday that "THE SHANTY IS OPEN." Sure enough, there is now a shanty when you walk into the lobby of the restaurant on North Main Street.
But that's not all.
The restuarant has also added some new themed drinks, including the "Love Shack Margarita," "Gone Fishin' Jello Shot," "Rod Reeler," and of course, "Ice Ice Baby."
All of this comes on the heels of Tuesday's Hudson City Council meeting, when Shubert talked about the "slippery slope" of allowing the practice of ice fishing. The mayor visibly raised eyebrows inside the room and stirred up national attention when he suggested the creation of ice shanties for fishing could lead to illegal sexual activities.
"If you then allow ice fishing with shanties, then that leads to another problem: prostitution," Shubert said. "Now you have the police chief of the police department involved. Just some data points to consider."
Shubert's remarks were widely mocked on social media and even by some of his colleagues, and the city later released a statement clarifying that the mayor's position is "largely ceremonial" under its council-manager system of government.
The city of Hudson confirmed Friday that residents can now go out on public lakes and fish. Signs posted at all spots note fishers will be going out "at [their] own risk," and emphasize all children must be accompanied by an adult.
3News' Ben Axelrod and Tyler Carey contributed to this report
Previous Reporting:
- Ice fishing now allowed in Hudson despite mayor's controversial 'prostitution' comments
- Hudson spokesperson says city won't respond to mayor's comments about ice fishing and prostitution; says mayor is 'largely ceremonial'
- Social media reacts to Hudson mayor saying ice fishing could lead to prostitution
- Watch: Hudson mayor says ice fishing could lead to prostitution