SF Prostitution Decriminalization Measure

Great news from San Francisco! Even though I live in LA, I'll be digging deep to support this one, hoping it (as well as Rhode Island ) sets a precedent.

-=>X<=-

----- Forwarded Message ----

From: Starchild

Sent: Monday, July 7, 2008 5:57:25 PM

Subject: Prostitution decriminalization measure expected to easily qualify for November SF ballot - 12,673 signatures submitted!

Around 2:00 p.m. this afternoon, after posing outside City Hall with

our cartons of petitions for a few photos, proponent Maxine Doogan

and a half dozen supporters of the measure to defund enforcement of

prostitution laws in San Francisco delivered forms bearing 12,673

signatures to the Elections Department. This was after thoroughly

vetting the signatures ourselves and crossing out those of people who

lived outside San Francisco, did not list an address, etc. Given that

the required number of valid signatures we needed to turn in was only

7,168 and we were shooting for 11,000 in order to have a reasonable

margin to cover signatures ruled invalid, we believe we are in very

good shape. Barring some truly unexpected occurrence, this measure

will appear before San Francisco voters on the November 4 ballot.

The Elections Department has up to 30 days to check and verify the

signatures we've submitted, and will inform us when they are ready to

begin this process, which we are allowed to observe. If you can

volunteer to be an observer (this will presumably be taking place on

weekdays), please call me at one of the numbers listed below.

Meanwhile, we plan to plunge ahead with the campaign to get this

measure passed. The 2008 election is 119 days from now, and there is

no time to waste. We expect to face a well-funded opposition effort

determined to keep wasting taxpayer money to the tune of around $11.4

million a year arresting, prosecuting, and "re-educating" San

Franciscans who choose to engage in consensual sexual activities, so

your help is needed now more than ever! This could be the most

important fight for sexual freedom in SF since the Libertarian

Party's daring 1979 measure to abolish the vice squad.

Many grateful thanks are extended to everyone who has already helped

gather signatures, donated money, or otherwise assisted us in getting

this far. And a special note of appreciation is due a couple individuals,

Sarah and Slava of Industrial Workers of the World, who were not with

us for the turn-in today but without whose tireless efforts in

collecting thousands of signatures each it is quite likely that we

would have fallen short in this petition drive.

The more votes we win in November, the more what we do here is

likely to inspire similar efforts in cities across the country and

even around the world. So even if you don't live in San Francisco,

please consider doing what you can to ensure this groundbreaking legislation

passes! Targeted donations may be sent to the Libertarian Party of

San Francisco at 2215-R Market Street, PMB 170, San Francisco, CA

94114 (just write "prostitution measure" on the memo line). With your

help, we will take an important and positive step toward ending

government's costly, harmful, moralistically judgmental, and

ultimately futile war on sex workers and our clients.

Love & Liberty,

((( starchild )))

Libertarian Party of San Francisco

Erotic Service Providers Union

Sex Workers Outreach Project

(415) 621-7932 / (415) 368-8657