It’s disappointing that Baldwin City may lose what has been, according to many accounts, a successful car show over the show’s name and marketing.

On Tuesday night, the Baldwin City Council declined to issue a special use permit for the “Pistons N Pinups” car show slated for June. This is the third year that Johnson County-based Rusty Metal Productions sought to host the show in Baldwin.

In previous years, the Baldwin City council approved the permit despite reservations about the event’s name and marketing, which included images of 1940s and 1950s era “pin-up girls.” The show, promoted as a hot rod car and bike show, included a vintage pin-up contest.

Baldwin City Council members had warned organizers that the permit wouldn’t be issued if the name and marketing weren’t changed. On Tuesday night, Councilman Steve Bauer made a motion to approve the permit for this year’s show, but the motion died when no council member would second it.

Councilwoman Kathy Gerstner said she opposed the name of the event, not the car show. Councilman Tony Brown said the name and promotional material could damage the city’s image.

“Sex sells, but not in my house,” he said.

In fairness to the event organizers, it seems a stretch to say the car show is marketing sex. A review of marketing materials and photos from past events reveals little that would comes across as objectionable — women dressed in outfits reminiscent of the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s sometimes posing with cars.

That said, the objectification of women should be taken seriously. And if council members perceive the event objectifies women, one would hope that event organizers would be willing to address the council’s concerns.

Joe Stutsman, one of the partners in Rusty Metal Productions, has stubbornly refused to consider changing the event name or marketing materials. He indicated Tuesday that the car show would simply relocate to another community.

The council should reconsider how it has framed Pistons N Pinups and its hard line in the sand on the event name, which is a recognizable brand in Northeast Kansas thanks to Pistons N Pinups events that have been held in other area communities. Similarly, event organizers should be willing to accommodate council’s requests to remove marketing images that council members find objectionable.

Reports are that the Pistons N Pinups car show was second only to the Maple Leaf Festival in terms of drawing visitors to Baldwin City. It would be a shame to see that opportunity evaporate because a compromise couldn’t be reached.