My Opinion On The San Francisco Prop K
So my news feeds have been chop full of people asking for support on the whole Proposition K vote in San Francisco. So what is my opinion of it? I am for it as far as I can tell what I have read and understand about the proposition. In fact I wish they had something along the lines of that here in Las Vegas. I understand the concern that the District Attorney has who spoke on the video about how it would make the city run rampant with street walkers and allow pimps to take over. That’s the part that I don’t understand as much. If they are decriminalizing prostitution then how does that have to do with pimps getting away with anything they want? Isn’t that part of the point so that girls can get help when they get into tough situations with clients or their pimp? Of course they shouldn’t decriminalize pimping laws and trafficking but that has no relation to the Proposition that is up for vote. I think this will only encourage girls to not be afraid of reporting their pimps or unethical businesses they work for.
I wish something would be passed like this in Las Vegas but I think it would need a little more regulation here since so many people come from out of town or state and take advantage of the laws we have here. A few years ago (I looked all over and can’t find the article) Las Vegas encouraged girls to come to the police and report their overpowering and abusive pimps without fear of being prosecuted themselves. Apparently under older laws, it was difficult for police and vice to prosecute the pimps without physically witnessing the exchange of money from a known prostitute. Absolutely ridiculous in my opinion that they had to come out and encourage girls it was the right thing to do and report abuse. Either way, I think the police should do more about the pimps than go after the girls like they do now, and I don’t think a law like Prop K would allow the pimps to rein the streets. I also think if the streetwalkers got out of hand in certain areas that they should be encouraged to move on. I don’t mind solicitation when girls are minding their own business by sitting at bars, advertising online and pretty much keeping it behind closed doors but what I do mind more is when its affecting the safety of neighborhoods and making things look bad.
So my little opinion on the matter, I hope things do pass in San Francisco but I also hope it doesn’t cause prostitution to look like an ugly and bad thing if it increased significantly in the city. I hope it paves the way for more workers rights and keeps the system in check instead of the bullying by our local governments, especially here in Las Vegas.
Tags: california, opinions, san francisco
Hey, LVK. Great point about pimps. I’ll be linking to you in a post of my own.
Any idea how Prop K will relate to brothels? It seems to me that, based on your experience and those of other Nevada bloggers the legal framework there, as in Australia, is that brothel owners get to keep their workers over a barrel.
Related question, possibly for a different post: What about escort booking agencies? Except for maybe managing credit card transactions they seem to charge extortionate percentages for next to no service for you. What impact do you expect legalization would have on their line of virtual pimping?
Thanks,
figleaf
October 28th, 2008 at 4:48 pmIt’s should be noted that Prop K doesn’t legalize, like the Nevada brothels. It decriminalizes. Legalization would entail regulations. Decriminalization doesn’t.
The theory is that decriminalization might actually work to get some people off the streets, into safer places to work.
October 28th, 2008 at 7:16 pmAs you might know I’m based in San Francisco and to tell the truth, I’m not sure yet how I’ll be voting on Prop K.
As a working girl I welcome the idea of not having to fear getting busted for doing my own thing, as well as knowing that pimps and traffickers won’t be off the hook. But somebody working at my level (independent BDSM, no sex–technically, very discreet) is pretty much left alone in San Francisco as it is. So one of my concerns with Prop K is pure, selfish protection of my own affairs. I wonder if Prop K passes, if more women from outside will flock to the city as a safe haven to do their biz more openly, driving my own rates down and compelling me to put myself more out in the open in order to attract business.
Also, as a city resident, I’m concerned about attracting that certain yahoo element from the outside: “Whoo-hooo, hookers just got legal in ‘San Fran!’ Party time!” That element is a demand that can’t get it’s needs met legally almost everywhere else, and that demand might attract more supply, not to mention all the drinking, drugging, puking, and littering that arrive from the kind of people who over-indulge themselves because nobody from “home” can see them. As a Vegas resident yourself, you probably know exactly the character I’m talking about.
I’m also wondering if Prop K will gain San Francisco a reputation, deserved or not, for being the place to go for S-E-X. Yes, I KNOW that Prop K isn’t about setting up legalized brothels on every street corner and letting pimps run rampant in the night, but I do wonder about how “the elements” (to put it nicely) that buzz around the sex industry will affect my city if this prop passes. Comment #2 on this thread is an example already: People outside of the issue and this city may or may not understand what exactly it’s about. Not to mention the very many people who will only remember the “SEX” part of “decriminializing sex work” and spread the word that San Francisco is one, great big red light district and a great place to drive in for your bachelor party. I do not want to have my San Francisco nights populated with hordes of sex-seeking out-of-towners who may or may not share the other woman and gay-friendly values that make this city special.
Still undecided on how I’ll vote at this moment.
October 28th, 2008 at 8:28 pmfigleaf:
I honestly believe after talking to girls here in Vegas who have formerly worked in brothels in Pahrump and reading some of the blogs of girls who have worked and blogged about their experiences working in brothels, that the brothels sometimes sound like a place that gives the girls less independence for what they want to do or sell. I know a girl here personally in Vegas who told me stories of how if a cabbie brought a customer out to the ranch she would have to offer everything for the minimum pricing of $200 (which she gets $100 of). To me that seems forceful and telling what the girl has to do with her body. In my case, working independently and for agencies, if I don’t like the tip or it’s not sufficient for the entertainment the client requests and I tried everything to make a deal, I can leave. I am never forced or encouraged to do anything I don’t want to do. Even if I feel very unsafe, I can walk out the door and don’t fear getting yelled at for leaving a client unsatisfied. I’d refer to an entry I wrote a while back about who gets what cut. At least with agencies you don’t entertain anyone for the fee… but sometimes, depending on the day, you waste a lot of time trying to make $
Peridot Ash: Yea I had considered the same thing about San Francisco being known as the place to get a prostitute, but hadn’t written it in the entry. Oops forgot that part. I think a lot of people are getting some idea that they are legalizing prostitution (idiots) and can’t see the line between decriminalizing and making it legal all together. I’d hate to see San Francisco borrow our motto of “what happens here stays here” but I really can’t see the demographic and touristy aspects of the city turning that way. I think San Fran is a city of its own and will remain ahead with its own individuality (with the gay scene and womens rights)and probably wouldn’t become the next Vegas for the sex trade. I could see the fear though…
October 29th, 2008 at 11:29 amSo Prop K was defeated in yesterday’s election. I think it’s for the best. As an independent, I always resented that it was written by a pimp (and a mean female one at that.)
I agree it would bring all kinds of competition and attention on San Francisco and that’s the last thing we need. If it just had said that cops could not arrest sex workers it would have been so much better. But it was a real mess and seemed to say that the cops had to leave pimps alone too and THAT is dangerous as hell in this town.
Hooray for Obama by the way!
Peace Out
November 5th, 2008 at 3:24 pmI wish every state could acted as holland, there you can trade your sexy body for something you want!
January 6th, 2009 at 12:43 amI’ve been looking for ever to find info on this, thanks very much
August 8th, 2009 at 12:23 pm