Summer In The City 2009
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Supervisor Chu’s and Mayor Newsom’s Legislation to Curb Sex Trafficking Approved by Board of Supervisors
For the past few weeks, SFWPC has been working with Supervisor Carmen Chu and Mayor Gavin Newsom on their legislation to curb sex trafficking and the exploitation of girls and women by imposing stricter oversight on massage parlor operators. On Tuesday, June 16th, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors approved both pieces of legislation with a unanimous vote.
This legislation will close a loophole in existing law that allows some businesses throughout the City to provide massage services without public notice, a public hearing, or community input. This loophole has been exploited by nefarious business owners who take advantage of the lack of oversight. It will level the playing field and require all massage establishments to undergo the same process, ensuring greater transparency and accountability on the part of business owners for the activities taking place in their establishments.
A BIG thank you to Supervisor Chu and her office (especially Cammy Blackstone) for spearheading this legislation. Another big thank you to Mayor Newsom and his office (especially Catherine Dodd.) We’d also like to thank the entire SFWPC Policy Committee: Chair, Shakari Byerly (who made the evening news on this issue), Amy Bacharach (who quarterbacked the entire SFWPC effort), SFWPC Vice President Heidi Sieck, Ramie Dare, Susan McIntyre, and Past SFWPC President Amy Moy as well as SFWPC Advisory Council Member Johanna Silva Waki for her outstanding organizing skills.
We’d also like to acknowledge the work of SAGE (Standing Up For Global Explotation), which works to improve the lives of individuals victimized by, or at risk for sexual exploitation, violence and prostitution through trauma recovery services, substance abuse treatment, vocational training, housing assistance and legal advocacy. We are proud to keep Norma Hotaling’s (SAGE Co-Founder) work and legacy moving forward.
Want more info? Contact SFWPC Policy Chair Shakari Byerly at shakari@sfwpc.org.
- Check out the SFWPC fact sheet on massage parlor legislation and with friends and colleagues via PDF.
- Read SFWPC’s official letter of support for Supervisor Chu’s legislation via PDF.
Last week, ABC7NEWS’ Vic Lee interviewed SFWPC Policy Chair Shakari Byerly on this piece of legislation. Check out our girl here: http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=news/local/san_francisco&id=6826258.
For more information on this legislation, check out these great articles in the Chron: