Prostitution is flourishing in the Rose City. Some Portlanders blame it on city hall's decision to let the prostitution exclusion zones lapse. They want the zones back and more efforts made to put prostitutes in jail. Other city residents say that rehabilitation, not more police, is the answer. In the meantime, Mayor Tom Potter has announed a new initiative to fight prostitution on 82nd Ave. through enhanced enforcement and prosecution combined with treatment options. How should we deal with prostitution in our city? Do we really understand the problem of prostitution?
This week on Voices from the Edge, we talk with community members who believe prostitution is not a law enforcement issue but one of economic and social injustice. Our guests will be Crystal Tenty of the Portland Women's Crisis Line and Leslie Peterson with the Sex Worker Outreach Coalition and Portland Bad Date Line. We'll also be talking with Allen Wilson of Standing Against Global Exploitation, a San Francisco-based holistic rehabilitation center that offers prostitutes mental health counseling and drug rehabilitation services to help them leave prostitution, heal from the trauma of sexual exploitation and begin new careers. Join us in this important discussion.