Prostitution Decriminalization Makes SF Ballot

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Posted: 11:47 AM Jul 19, 2008
Last Updated: 11:47 AM Jul 19, 2008

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SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - A measure that aims to keep prostitutes from facing criminal charges has qualified for the November ballot in San Francisco.

The measure, which qualified Friday, would bar authorities from spending money to investigate or prosecute prostitutes for engaging
in prostitution.

A San Francisco first-time offender program that allows men to avoid charges for soliciting a prostitute if they attend a class and pay a fine would also end under the measure.

The Erotic Service Providers Union recently announced it had gathered the 12,000 signatures necessary to put the measure on the ballot after failing to get a similar initiative before voters in 2006.

Mayor Gavin Newsom says the measure would hurt the city's ability to investigate and prosecute sex-trafficking crimes.

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Information from: San Francisco Chronicle,
http://www.sfgate.com/chronicle

AP-NY-07-19-08 1407EDT

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Posted by: Starchild Location: http://www.isil.org/resources/introduction.swf on Jul 20, 2008 at 10:10 PM
While the San Francisco city government spends $11.4 million a year arresting and prosecuting people for consensual acts of prostitution, serious crimes like murders and robberies go unsolved for lack of attention and resources. The city had a record homicide rate in 2007 and is on par to match or exceed that rate again in 2008. There is a huge backlog of deferred maintenance in city parks, and another huge backlog of streets that need repaving. Many streets are full of cracks and potholes. It's bad enough that the SF Bicycle Coalition has been sending volunteers out with white paint to mark the edges of potholes and dangerous cracks so that people aren't injured riding into them. Meanwhile, California's prisons are overcrowded and facing the prospect of having to release some inmates early. The "world's oldest profession” isn’t called that for nothing. Criminalizing it has never gotten rid of it, and never will. All it does is ruin lives and throw taxpayer money down a rathole.

Posted by: Starchild Location: San Francisco on Jul 20, 2008 at 09:07 PM
While the San Francisco city government spends $11.4 million a year arresting and prosecuting people for prostitution, serious crimes like murders and robberies go unsolved for lack of attention and resources. The city had a record homicide rate in 2007 and is on par to match or exceed that rate again in 2008. There is a huge backlog of deferred maintenance in city parks, and another huge backlog of streets that need repaving. Many streets are full of cracks and potholes. It's bad enough that the SF Bicycle Coaltion has taken to sending volunteers out with white paint to paint around the edges of potholes and dangerous cracks to help people avoid injury riding into them. California's prisons are overcrowded and facing the prospect of having to release some inmates early. Prostitution isn't called the "world's oldest profession" for nothing. Criminalizing it hasn't gotten rid of it, and never will. All it does is waste taxpayer money, ruin lives, and help real criminals avoid justice.