by Mark Aspillera
Supporters of Proposition K, a prospective measure which would decriminalize prostitution in San Francisco, held a press conference at Pier 5 Law Offices on Oct. 29, 2008 as part of what they called a “final push of a historical campaign.”
The conference stressed a CNN broadcast that said that “according to the polls” 73 percent of San Franciscans support the proposition. The broadcast did not specify which polls were being cited. (Broadcast viewable at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rn-UoXbPu2I).
Rachel West with the U.S. Prostitutes Collective said that $11.4 million is spent yearly to arrest sex workers and that Prop. K would redirect the money, and that recommendations for the money will be “thought out when Prop. K passes.”
The proposition would implement “the main recommendations made by the San Francisco Task Force on Prostitution, a task force created by the San Francisco Board of Supervisors in 1996, according to Prop K advocates.
Carol Leigh, a sex worker activist and another Prop. K supporter, said the $11.4 million would go to voluntary programs for sex workers.
Prominent critics of Prop. K include San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom, District Attorney Kamala Harris and the San Francisco Police Department, all of whom officially oppose the proposition.
Harris, who played a part in a 2006 state law making human trafficking a felony, said Prop. K will impede the progress of human trafficking investigations.
Newsom attended a No on K press conference, also on Oct. 29. Opposition to Prop. K has said that the proposition will increase crime and allow human traffickers to thrive in the city.
West described said criticisms as “just another scare tactic,” adding that the proposition says nothing to support what has been called slavery.
“There is a difference between trafficking and prostitution,” she said.
Pro-Prop. K pamphlets state that by decriminalizing prostitution, San Francisco police will be able to “vigorously enforce” laws against violent crimes associated with the sex trade including trafficking.
West said the criminalization of prostitution “empowers” pimps and traffickers.
Slava Osowska with Industrial Workers of the World, an international union, characterized Prop. K as a “labor issue.” He said that sex workers have García“no recourse whatsoever” for crimes perpetrated against them.
Referred was made at the conference to the Oct. 28 FBI operation aimed at child prostitution, which resulted in the arrest of more than 100 people in the Bay Area and 642 nationwide.
“How much did that cost?” said West. “Why aren’t they helping child prostitutes? Why are they arresting them?”
Margaret Prescod, radio host and a Prop. K supporter, described raids that impact immigrant women as “basically ICE raids,” in reference to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and “a vice racket.”
