A progressive San Francisco politician is proposing that California legalize sex work and create a red-light district in the city. Though Supervisor Hillary Ronen’s proposal is just a resolution, not a mandate, it’s part of a continuing trend in the city and state of liberalization and decriminalization of prostitution.
“I don’t think this is going to happen tomorrow,” Ronen told a journalist. But, she said to another, “I do feel that society’s acceptance and (ability) to get away from the morality issues is growing.”
But if California and San Francisco legalize prostitution, it will likely exacerbate sex trafficking, including minors, say experts. “If we do that, this gives total leeway to the traffickers to exploit minors,” said Elizabeth Quiroz, who was sex trafficked in San Francisco. “If you legalize it, you increase demand and so you have to increase supply.”
[The headline is a line from the film “The Mexican,” spoken at different times by Bob Balaban and Julia Roberts. May as well add “drugs” to the line too, as the authors point out that the city appears to encourage drug addicts to spend their travel dollars in the City By The Bay. As if California couldn’t get worse … — Ed]
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