1. The decriminalization of prostitution will mean an increase in streetwalkers. This will become a flagrant act done in front of homes and private business. I’m not saying that prostitution should only be allowed in brothels, I like the way Rhode Island handles the issue. Despite what you might think, most people don’t like seeing prostitutes hanging around their house. What happens in a brothel, or what is worked out via phone and email, then transacted in a private room is fine, but not in front of homes and businesses.

2. You arguement is unfair and a little distasteful. I know that you know that sex trafficking is an incredibly difficult crime to succesfully prosecute. The only way to stop it is to be aggressive in raids of suspected traffickers, keep fining them until they close, and get the girls out of the sittuation. The National Lawyers Guild is not taking real world facts into account, only the idea that a girl can come in to the police and claim she is being trafficked without the worry of prosectution. That is not going to happen.

3. It is just silly to say that the federal government is going to launch complexed tax evasion sting operations to catch hookers. Prostitutes, should be like any other licensed contractor and pay taxes for their business. Decriminalization of prostittuion is also essentially decrminalization of tax evasion for this group.

4. Your statement is untrue. Clearly if sex workers are tested for STD’s on a regular basis, this will help lower the possibility of spreading the problem. This has worked very well in the pornography industry, as well as in the Nevada brothels. You’re more likely to catch an STD from someone in a bar, than a licensed prostitute in Nevada.

I do have a question for you, and I would really like an honest, non-political answer. If the option was available, would you not prefer legalization?

Let’s start with a few:

1. You don’t have the definition of “decriminalization” versus “legalization” correct. Legalization, like in Nevada, or Victoria, Australia, means that prostitution is only legal in brothels. Decriminalization, like in New Zealand or in New South Wales, Australia, means that people can also work independently. Legalization is like saying you can only work for a big company, but you cannot work for yourself.

2. Prop K will not kill efforts to stop human trafficking in San Francisco. In the past two years, there has not been a single conviction for trafficking in SF. There is nothing to kill. Prop K will allow sex workers and clients to go to the authorities if they see evidence of trafficking. The National Lawyers Guild has also endorsed Prop K, saying it will result in more prosecutions for trafficking.

3. Taxation, permits, zoning regulations, and labor regulations are not something anyone can escape. Often the Mafia is not brought down for their actual crimes like murder, etc, but for tax evasion. Prop K brings prostitution above ground, and it means that anyone operating a prostitution has to follow all the regulations that apply to other businesses.

4. Mandatory testing does not result in lower rates of STD’s. Mandatory testing gives the illusion that you are disease free, and the result is that it encourages unsafe sex practices. Regardless of what the tests say, people should ALWAYS have protected sex. Public Health officials recommend decriminalization, not legalization, and they recommend getting test every 3 to 6 months. Dr. Klausner, head of the STD unit of the Department of Public Health has endorsed prop k.

5. For more information, visit http://www.yesonpropk.org