Millions of dollars!
Let's terrorize Seattle instead.....
"Mission Accomplished!"

Mercury readers-

I wanted to post my thoughts on the Montavilla Volunteer Community Foot Patrol. Our primary purpose of the Foot Patrol in its inception was to report prostitutes and create a safety presence. When our patrols first started in July, we would report up to 8 prostitutes in a two hour period. As noted in the article, we have noticed a significant decrease in the number of prostitutes on our patrol.

We consider this a success. We plan to continue patrolling. Mostly, because we realize that City of Portland still does not have any programs in place. The intitiative proposed by Mayor Tom Potter's office to address this issue on the police level, to my knowledge, has not been implemented. We patrol as a visible reminder to the City of Portland that there is still work to be done.

However, I take issue to the statement "prostitute-spotting patrols." We do not patrol simply to look for prostitutes. During our patrols, we walk the side streets and into the neighborhood. We stop and talk with the neighbors. If we come across someone that has a question or an issue, we seek to direct them to city services that can help them.

The logbook is kept for two reasons. First, it is required by the Office of Neighborhood Involvement that we track certain information. Second, it is helpful for us to correspond with each other regarding questions or contacts made during patrol that need followup.

We are also very thankful and appreciative of the support shown to us by the Portland Police Bureau. They have proven to us that the streets can be made safe, once the proper resources are given to them.

Regarding the use of Craigslist to front prostitution, I can say this. They have still meet in the real world. If you have a residence on your block that has unusual traffic patterns, or a business that seems to be a little shady, then you need to act. Call the city directory at 503-823-4000 with your concern. The operators there are a wealth of information.

Brian Wong, Coordinator
Montavilla Volunteer Community Foot Patrol

Crystal Tenty is right, arresting sex workers without social services is not going to improve/solve the problem in the long term, and only offering services to workers that are arrested is even more ridiculous.
We keep hearing all of the opinions of the neighbors and government, etc, but we need to hear the voices of the sex workers, and it seems that those voices have been consistently silenced. We need to be paying more attention to organizations and outreach workers that actually hear these voices and concerns.

I have a comment.

Mr. Wong and cohorts:

Congratulations. You have shifted the problem out of your neighborhood. That is a victory of sorts.

Now a different neighborhood is being victimized.

The children of your fellow citizens now have to worry about what their children may be exposed to. Do you care? Obviously, not.

The "sex workers" are still being victimized by the pimps and drug dealers that quite literally own them. Do you care? Obviously, not.

But they are out of your neighborhood, so you can feel quite self-righteous and self-satisfied.

Out of sight, out of mind. And I bet you won't lift a finger to help those women, will you. No. It's the city's fault, isn't it? Not yours.

And the city, meaning the mayor, the city council and the police are off the hook until some other self-righteous soul makes a fuss. This problem has been going on -- unchanged -- since the city was founded, and not once has a city administration done anything more than push the problem around the city. Do you care? Obviously, not.

And the victims? You don't care any more than the mayor, the city council or the police.

Way to pass the buck, bucko. You could have helped solve the problem, to do something for which you could be remembered, you could have made a real difference to the citizens of your home town and the victims who are crying for a hero, but you haven't the cojones, do you?

Don't feel bad. The editorial staff at the Mercury are too busy re-writing press releases and going to free-food-and-booze media events to do anything more than whine about the problem.

What a group of losers.

I remain your humble if disgusted servant,

Jacomus