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Did fear doom Berk sexwork measure Q?
36.1% voted Yes.
http://www.sfgate.com/election/2004/11/02/CA/c/i_measure/i_q_berkeley_prostitution/g_ballot_issue/c/alameda.shtml
November 2 Election Returns
Alameda County
Measure Q Berkeley -
Prostitution,
Lowest Priority Enforcem[ent]
No 23,223 63.9%
Yes 13,096 36.1%
[-- sfGate, updated 3 Nov. 2004, at 2:52 AM]
100% of precincts reporting
[ but not necessarily 100% of votes,
because of absentee and provisional ballots ]
.........
Comments by Carl Cole:
For Measure Q, 36% is an impressive "Yes" vote.
Some of the "No" voters reportedly sympathized with
Berkeley's local prostitutes,
at least somewhat.
But they may have feared that clients, prostitutes, pimps, etc.,
from elsewhere (especially Oakland and SF)
might shift activity to the City of Berkeley,
after it became California's ONLY
official "zone of tolerance" for sexwork.
"No" voters may have imagined a regional "Storyville" ( "zona rosa" );
serving most of northern California; and possibly attracting "sex tourists"
who would otherwise visit Nevada brothels.
Probably these fears were exaggerated?
...........................
###
November 2 Election Returns
Alameda County
Measure Q Berkeley -
Prostitution,
Lowest Priority Enforcem[ent]
No 23,223 63.9%
Yes 13,096 36.1%
[-- sfGate, updated 3 Nov. 2004, at 2:52 AM]
100% of precincts reporting
[ but not necessarily 100% of votes,
because of absentee and provisional ballots ]
.........
Comments by Carl Cole:
For Measure Q, 36% is an impressive "Yes" vote.
Some of the "No" voters reportedly sympathized with
Berkeley's local prostitutes,
at least somewhat.
But they may have feared that clients, prostitutes, pimps, etc.,
from elsewhere (especially Oakland and SF)
might shift activity to the City of Berkeley,
after it became California's ONLY
official "zone of tolerance" for sexwork.
"No" voters may have imagined a regional "Storyville" ( "zona rosa" );
serving most of northern California; and possibly attracting "sex tourists"
who would otherwise visit Nevada brothels.
Probably these fears were exaggerated?
...........................
###
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Comments
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I voted against it and yes I did have fears that Berkeley would become a magnet for prostitution. This was a poorly written law and all the more reason to vote against. I don’t think it’s at all unreasonable to think that sex workers from other parts of the Bay Area would come to Berkeley because it would be a safe zone along with their Johns creating and changing the whole environment of Berkeley.
As a resident of Berkeley, it was easy to see why prop Q lost. The no on Q people were a well funded coalition of paternalistic NIMBY liberals. their signs declared, "no on Q, Protect our neighborhoods, protect our women and children" or something to that effect. Unfortunately, Berkeley is not nec. the bastion of progressive thought that it is portrayed to be. The class make up of Berkeley has definatley pushed local politics into the liberal sphere.
I voted for Q but had some problems with it still. Just in terms of where and how prostition could be conducted safely for all parties involved.
I voted for Q but had some problems with it still. Just in terms of where and how prostition could be conducted safely for all parties involved.
Even if Prop Q had passed it would have made no difference in the level of prosecution re: prostitution. The Berkeley PD, (this is also true in most other cities), set their own prioritities as to what crimes the prosecute snd which ones they let slide. The only political restraints on the police are the mayor selecting the Chief of police and the city council approving their budget. They pretty much do what they want to and unless they fuck up enough to get their asses sued their's not a lot anyone can do about it.
What gets me pissed of was even though prop Q was just symbolic, the vast majority of our so-called liberal Berkeley community just demonstrated that they have a complete lack of perception regarding the realities of urban life and that they'll do their damndest to avoid encountering anybody or anything that confronts their sense of smug self rightousness.
What gets me pissed of was even though prop Q was just symbolic, the vast majority of our so-called liberal Berkeley community just demonstrated that they have a complete lack of perception regarding the realities of urban life and that they'll do their damndest to avoid encountering anybody or anything that confronts their sense of smug self rightousness.
they just attract undesireable elements
like this guy
http://idaho.indymedia.org/news/2004/07/9576_comment.php
like this guy
http://idaho.indymedia.org/news/2004/07/9576_comment.php
I think it would totally be west and south berkeley, where prostitution zones would be. But that is where it is right now anyway, stop me if I am wrong. The most anti Q signs that I saw were in North berkeley, next to the signs for prop jkl to increase cops and evil libraries. There is an ideal of what Berkeley is, and the reality of what it is.
Measure Q was put on the ballot by self organizing sex workers, not berkeley pimps association.
http://www.swop-usa.org/
Measure Q was put on the ballot by self organizing sex workers, not berkeley pimps association.
http://www.swop-usa.org/
I was stoked to be living so close to the next Sodom and Gomorrah, sadly i (and probably others like me) don't live in berkeley.
be happy to ùake sex with amateur .ima a top man i have a smole busnes in sex .i am looking for a porn star be my partner.in africa .
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