This Week in the Mercury
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
News Join The Hookers' Union In San Francisco
Posted by Matt Davis on Tue, Oct 21, 2008 at 3:47 PM
I've been following Sarah's coverage of the prostitution issues on 82nd avenue with hearty interest...there are so many conflicting opinions and underlying issues at stake. It's easy to jump to defending the neighbors, or the prostitutes, or the cops. But I'm not really sure how I'd respond to the issues on 82nd if I were any of them. So...
It's interesting to read this AP article saying San Francisco is pondering a ballot measure to effectively legalize prostitution. If voters approve the measure, it will forbid the authorities from investigating, arresting, or prosecuting anyone for selling sex, freeing up $11m of police money that could be used to help prostitutes organize, say advocates.
The local Democratic party endorses the measure, according to the report, although business groups and the cops say it would allow pimps the run of neighborhoods. But sex workers' advocates say aggressive police policies don't help the victims of human trafficking, who are often run up and down the coast between Portland, San Francisco, and other cities, to work as prostitutes.
The bottom line of the argument seems to be: Stop picking on the prostitutes. Demonizing them only drives the problem underground, where pimps are better able to do the most harm.
If prostitution were effectively legal here in Portland, it's unlikely there would be a spare $11m to fund hookers' rights. But I do see the principle behind the San Francisco measure, and tend to agree with it. My skepticism comes in when it comes to targeting the traffickers. I doubt whether any police department is institutionally equipped or politically motivated to target pimps. It's never been part of the role of police. Indeed, it was just 50 years ago that the city was implicated in essentially running the vice in this town. Still, I'd be interested to hear what those involved in the 82nd Ave debate think of the San Francisco idea.
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Sir:
Something has to be done other than one neighborhood victimizing another neighborhood.
The industry is not going away.
We have to figure out a way to protect the public, protect the customer from STD's, protect the sex workers AND help them find a way out of the lifestyle.
Pushing it around like a hockey puck makes matters worse, especially for the prostitutes. Contrary to the way the self-righteous act, these men and women are citizens, human beings and some one's son or daughter.
This is why the actions of the Montevilla League of Self-righteous Homeowners or whatever they call themselves sickens me.
I remain,
Jacomus
Yeah, Jacomus ol' boy, I'm sure that nothing tears them up inside like seein' a hooker or three wander past the Country Cat while they're enjoying their overpriced (albeit, tasty) fried chicken. My heart really goes out to 'em.
What a novel idea... Give people the freedom to decide for themselves what is best.
Using Las Vegas as an example... Mandatory std/hiv tests, tax it, sell it. This is a no brainer.
Matt, you are losing your edge. Or, maybe you are trying to hang on to it too tightly. Sorry, I've lost faith in you, love. That's what you brits say to one another, right?
you are turning into the willamette week circa 1989-92, Congratu-fuck-ulationas.
Jacomus -
As we stated to you many times before - we do not want to push this crime around - we expect our city officials to react and see the patterns before it reaches a critcal level.
"We as a city need to react quicker - look at how quickly crime - the pimps took over this area since the ordinance was dropped last September. The city needs to start realizing patterns so we are just not pushing this around or letting it reach such a critical level again. Along with the PFZ we ask our elected officials to look at solutions to help the women and truly enforce the johns. "
We noticed once again you glossed over the fact that even under the guise of "legalized" prostitution women & young girls are being trafficked and forced into it. It is a "solution" that too has many issues around it.
>>>You should also please educate yourself on the present issues with "legalized" prostitution -
From Human Trafficking.org / June 03, 2008:
"Europe Reconsiders Prostitution as Sex Trafficking Booms" http://www.humantrafficking.org/updates/77…
"Trafficking and forced prostitution are on the rise, and the EU countries' complicated prostitution laws make prosecution difficult.
An aid organization has opened its 12th office in Germany to advise women in need. Some 700,000 women are trafficked to western Europe every year."
The below is a recent article (July 20, 2008) regarding Amsterdam's recent crack down on their red light district & policies.
"Recently, six members of a gang led by two Turkish-German brothers were convicted for people trafficking. They were active in the red light district in Amsterdam as well as in Germany and Belgium. Women were beaten, raped and forced into prostitution. Most of the victims were too scared to make a formal complaint against the gang. "
http://www.expatica.com/nl/life_in/feature…
You have told us in the past "just don't push your problem off on someone else" - how is it OUR problem when johns are coming from all over this state & WA state? How pimps are coming in from Seattle & LA and beyond since are laws are so laxed. This is not just OUR problem.
Jacomus perhaps you would like to spend some of your energy & time talking with the residents of this city affected by this crime - like one young mother we met - who doesn't have the luxury of a car & must walk along 82nd to get her groceries and when doing so with her 3 young children men in cars are propositioning her in front of her kids - just because she is walking along on 82nd as a lone woman during the day. She doesn't want to move out of her apt nor does she have the money to move or pay another security deposit but she fears for her safety and for her childrens'.
Lastly we are not resorting to name calling - Jacomous you are always labelling us - casting us a religious/ self righteous. We are urging people to educate themselves on all layers to this complicated crime & get active in whatever aspect they are interested in.
Thank you,
Montavilla In Action
For the record, last night I drove down 82nd to get a burrito at that place close to 82nd and Fremont, I saw three members of MIA, and two hookers within two blocks of each other
Coincedence?
DUN DUN DUNNNNN
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