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

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

Thanks for the information..It was very helpful!

hello
I used to be a COYOTE in San Francisco back in days before AIDS. We tried very hard back then to get the sex industry decriminalized, and we were only partially successful. In 1976 the consenting adult act was passed. I worked in the COYOTE office and directly with Margo St. James. We had a some good programs and support groups.
The Victoria Woodhull Foundation helped women get into pre-trial diversion programs on first offense, and encouraged them to dump pimps. It may sound like an oxymoron, but we were feminist hookers! Wonder where everyone is now . .Gypsyeagle