N. I. Krasnov may be right that visible uniforms in a certain section of Franklin may "clean up" that area by causing the unwanted personages to move their operations away, perhaps to a block further north or south. But it won't really affect the activity otherwise. If the problem is SEEING the activity, his way is costly but likely effective.
More effective would be making it a phone-oriented activity. Why IS it that the dealers and ladies stand on the street? Is it because they've learned it is wiser to be a visual nuisance than to take the risk of doing business by electronic means? Can someone tell me why we WOULDNT want them doing business by telephone? I mean, it seems clear to me we've never really made a dent by applying pressure on the streets. Face it, you'll always have a market which means you really cannot stamp out these industries. Why is it we haven't got the sense to mold the industries into something we can most easily tolerate. Honestly, the fact that I don't want to do the nasty for pay doesnt mean I care that much if someone else does. As for smoking rocks, well, I have about as much respect for people who entertain themselves that way as those who entertain themselves with online gaming or going to pro wrestling matches. But I'm not eager that the cops spend too much of my money restraining either activity. To anticipate the inevitable Jim Graham rejoinder, I don't want ho's or dealers walking around in my neighborhood, either. But if they'd conduct themselves in a neighborhood friendly way (yet to be defined, but if we could put a MAN on the moon............), that'd be a different matter. As some feminists said decades ago, there are quite a few women performing prostitute acts with men they married for no other reason. Why is it that those who do so without any pretense are worse? Now I know I've upset a few prudes, but I'm just pondering some questions here. Like homelessness, drugs and prostitution are scourges we simply can't get to go away, but maybe we can affect HOW they happen so that our town isn't affected unduly in the wrong way. I mean, we COULD end homelessness. Just make it a ENFORCED crime and force those who are guilty into state "shelters". But until women can make money more easily by other methods (especially the drug-addicted), we WON'T end prostitution. Some women will use it to get a husband. Others will sell it on the open market to all comers. I have y et to hear anyone seriously claim they want it ended in Minneapolis (that is, no one has said they want true equality between the sexes to give women the financial independence that would make prostitution unattractive). That being so, let's stop being hypocrites and make an accommodation so that our environment is maintained as attractive as possible. I mean, who are we to play so HIGH and mighty when sexual economic equality is a commitment we refuse to make? Jim Mork Cooper Neighborhood Longfellow Community In The Great and Wonderful City I Call Home, Minneapolis TEMPORARY REMINDER: 1. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. 2. If you don't like what's being discussed here, don't complain - change the subject (Mpls-specific, of course.) ________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
