NO OPEN DOORS

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San Francisco may become safe for prostitutes

SAN FRANCISCO, California (AP) -- In this live-and-let-live town, where medical marijuana clubs do business next to grocery stores and an annual fair celebrates sadomasochism, prostitutes could soon walk the streets without fear of arrest.
A sex worker who goes by the name of Violet stands at a San Francisco, California, bus stop.

A sex worker who goes by the name of Violet stands at a San Francisco, California, bus stop.

San Francisco would become the first major U.S. city to decriminalize prostitution if voters next month approve Proposition K, a measure that forbids local authorities from investigating, arresting or prosecuting anyone for selling sex.

The ballot question technically would not legalize prostitution, since state law still prohibits it, but the measure would eliminate the power of local law enforcement officials to go after prostitutes.

Proponents say the measure will free up $11 million the police spend each year arresting prostitutes and allow them to form collectives.

"It will allow workers to organize for our rights and for our safety," said Patricia West, 22, who said she has been selling sex for about a year by placing ads on the Internet. She moved to San Francisco in May from Texas to work on Proposition K.

Even in tolerant San Francisco, where the sadomasochism fair draws thousands of tourists and a pornographic video company is housed in a former armory, the measure faces an uphill battle, with much of the political establishment opposing it.

Some form of prostitution is legal in two states. Brothels are allowed in rural counties in Nevada. And Rhode Island permits the sale of sex behind closed doors between consulting adults, but it prohibits street prostitution and brothels.

In 2004, almost two-thirds of voters in nearby Berkeley rejected decriminalization. But proponents of Proposition K say their proposal has a better shot in San Francisco, which they believe is more sexually liberal than the city across the bay.

After all, the world's oldest profession has long been established here. During the Gold Rush, the neighborhood closest to the piers was a seedy pleasure center of sex, gambling and drinking known as the Barbary Coast.

These days, on certain corners, prostitutes sell their bodies day and night, ducking into doorways and alleys when police pass. One recent afternoon in the Mission District, six prostitutes were plying their trade on a single block.

Police made 1,583 prostitution arrests in 2007 and expect to make a similar number this year. But the district attorney's office says most defendants are fined, placed in diversion programs or both. Fewer than 5 percent get prosecuted for solicitation, which is a misdemeanor punishable by up to six months in jail.

Proposition K has been endorsed by the local Democratic Party. But the mayor, the district attorney, the police department and much of the business community oppose the idea. They contend that it would increase street prostitution, allow pimps the run of neighborhoods and hamper the fight against sex trafficking, which would remain illegal because it involves forcing people into the sex trade.

The San Francisco Chronicle editorialized against the measure, saying it could make the city a magnet for prostitution.

If the proposal passes, "we wouldn't be able to investigate prostitution, and it's going to be pretty difficult for us to locate these folks who are victims of trafficking otherwise," said Capt. Al Pardini, head of the police department's vice unit. "It's pretty rare that we get a call that says, 'I'm a victim of human trafficking' or 'I suspect human trafficking in my neighborhood.' "

The proposition would also prohibit police from accepting federal or state funds for sex trafficking investigations that involve racial profiling. Such investigations often arise from raids on brothels that advertise as Asian massage parlors.

"We feel that repressive policies don't help trafficking victims and that human rights-based approaches, including decriminalization, are actually more effective," said Carol Leigh, co-founder of the Bay Area Sex Workers Advocacy Network and a longtime advocate for prostitutes' rights.

But San Francisco District Attorney Kamala Harris said the ballot question mistakenly assumes that prostitution is a victimless crime.

"The crime of prostitution does not exist by itself," Harris said. "Along with it come pimps, johns and other crimes that really impact the safety of neighborhoods."

If the measure passes, supporters say, prostitutes would not feel the need for pimps as protection. But opponents insist that it would embolden pimps who trap drug addicts into prostitution by plying them with drugs.

"The proponents usually paint a fairly rosy picture of two consenting adults and a monetary exchange at the end," Pardini said. "They don't factor in the people that are being exploited and people that are being controlled, the ones manipulated both physically and chemically."

Ok...This article just remind of this..

one word...WHY!!!!!

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Well at least the 49ers is rank 1st in something...So sad

10. Eric Mangini (Jets): That whole Mangenious thing got old pretty quick didn't it? The Jets surprised everyone with a 10-6 record in Mangini's first season but last year things evened out a bit when the team fell the 4-12. Mangini's boring brand out football made the Jets a tough watch...well until the traded for whats his name. Can Brett Favre save the Jets and Mangini?

9. Gary Kubiak (Texans): This one comes as a shock to me. I really thought Kubiak would get the Texans to the playoffs. He still might. But he is 0-4 right now and he has failed to turn Matt Schaub into the franchise QB they hoped he would be when they gave him all that money. The Texans have gone 6-10 and 8-8 in his first two seasons. With the Hurricane Ike screwing with the team early on, maybe 04 is an aberation. So you still have time to get off the list Gary.

8. Brad Childress (Vikings): Any coach who gives Tavaris Jackson a starting QB job automatically makes this list. The Vikings stole a game in New Orleans to avoid a 1-4 start. If they don't turn it around he could be gone at the end of the season. Great mustache though. Really very 80's.

7. Herm Edwards (Chiefs): You play to win the game! Really coach? Considering the Jets almost packed your bags for you when the Chiefs, for whatever reason, tabbed you to replace Dick Vermeil. He hasn't had much to work with in KC and it shows with a 14-23 record thus far. Still, you reach a 9.9 on the unintentional comedy scale Herm. For that alone I hope you stay around.


6. Romeo Crennel (Browns): I am of the belief that the Browns got lucky in 2007. They are not a 10-6 football team and Crennel is not a very good head coach. Even with 2007 he is 21-31 with Cleveland. Tough part for Cleveland fans is that Phil Savage gave Romeo an extension after his 10-6 mirage. One year does not make a coach.

5. Any Raiders Coach: Your owner is completely insane. Good luck Tom Cable...whoever you are. Since their 2002 Superbowl team, Raiders coaches are a combined 20-64! Maybe that's why Al Davis is nuts!

4. Marvin Lewis (Bengals): From the constant influx of troubled players to underachieving every year, Marvin Lewis has never lived up to the promise many thought he showed as defensive coordinator. Plus, I'm going on record as saying defensive coordinators for the Ravens don't count. Whoever they put in there does well. I have to think it has more to do with Ray Lewis and the boys then it does the coordinator.

3. Jim Haslett (Rams): I understand wanting to fire Scott Linehan who may be the worst head coach this league has seen in a while. But replacing him with Jim Haslett? I know! Lets fire our coach and promote our defensive coordinator whose defense is historically bad. In Jim's defense (no pun intended) he did coach the Saints to solid mediocrity in the early 2000's.

2. Rod Marinelli (Lions): I legitimately feel bad for Lion's fans. How much was Matt Millen's poor decision making and how much has been Marinelli? He's 10-26 as a head coach. He has to take some of the blame. Why have you stayed with Jon Kitna so long?

1. Mike Nolan (49ers): Terrible game planning? Check. Throwing your players under the bus? Check. Terrible clock management? Check. Declining a holding call to set up a 3rd and 1 instead of a 2nd and 11 for the other team? Check (yes that actually happened against TB last season). Mike Nolan is a salesman. He somehow convinced 49er owner John York to hire him as head coach and give him complete control over the team even though he had zero experience in either department. He drafted a QB from a gimmick, spread college offense and made him the center piece of a team that was built (at least attempted to be built)to win with conservative offense and good defense. He then threw that quarterback under the bus when he tried to play with a should injury so bad that it has kept him out for the 2007 and 2008 seasons. This "defensive specialist" has spent millions on free agent defenders only to have a squad that is a mismosh of 3-4 and 4-3 players struggling to find an identity. The team has lacked a pass rush as Nolan refuses to stray from his vanilla schemes. Week after week, he tells the press that the schemes were right but the players didn't execute, refusing to take blame for the utter mess he has created by the bay. The 49ers were 16-32 in is first 3 seasons. He should have been fired last season but 49er fans have been made to suffer 1 more year.

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Houshmandzadeh subject of trade rumors

By Carlos "Big C" Holmes | Tuesday, October 7, 2008, 11:49 AM

The NFL trading deadline is 4 p.m. Oct. 14 and trade rumors are starting to run rampant throughout the league and the Cincinnati Bengals appear to be headliners.
T.J. Houshmandzadeh.jpg

Rumor has it that the San Francisco 49ers could have interest in acquiring Bengals WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh, who will become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season.

According to a source, Houshmandzadeh’s name has come up quite frequently during conversation at Niners headquarters in recent weeks. Apparently, 49ers offensive coordinator Mike Martz is enamored with Houshmandzadeh and may have learned some positive things about the receiver from a member of the Zampese family who Martz remains close to.

The 49ers are looking to upgrade the receiver position opposite veteran Isaac Bruce and are expected to do so by the trading deadline. The acquisition of Houshmandzadeh would provide the team with more firepower in the passing game.

According to the source, the Niners organization is also expected to make contact with the Detroit Lions regarding the availability of receiver Roy Williams, who has been the subject of trade talk for months.

Houshmandzadeh’s agent Kennard McGuire did not return a phone call seeking comment.

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So proud of the person that help design this product for Clinque. Thats whats up!!!!

and


the fun start at 1:30

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BET gives 'Rap City' the heave-ho



The beat is ending at BET's "Rap City," the longrunning video program that finally helped vault hip-hop music into the popular mainstream.

The network confirmed Wednesday it will replace "Rap City" with a new show, "The Deal," starting Nov. 10.

A farewell episode is planned for "Rap City," which launched in September 1989. There was speculation yesterday it could run Oct. 29, but a network source said no date has been set.

While "Rap City" has drifted over the last three years, frequently changing hosts and time slots, it remains one of the media pillars on which rap's current popularity was built.

"'Rap City' is a legendary program that has been crucial in creating awareness for hip-hop music videos that were tailored for the core rap fan," said Ebro Darden, program director of WQHT (97.1 FM).

Hot-97 didn't switch to a full-time hip-hop format - the first in the country- until four years after "Rap City" went on the air.

"The Deal," which will be hosted by deejay Diamond Kutz, also will be a music show focusing on hip hop. It will be an hour long and continue several themes from "Rap City," including the popular "Pop-Up Video" segment.

"Rap City" was considered a risky notion when it debuted, because hip-hop music was under fire for its "gangsta rap" controversy and there was fear the genre was too angry and harsh to become part of the mainstream.

But "Rap City" and its original host, "The Mayor" Chris Thomas, quickly became one of the network's most popular shows, and a must-visit destination for popular and aspiring rap artists.

Over the years, almost every major rapper visited "Rap City," which was considered edgier than its slightly older rival, the late "Yo! MTV Raps."

In addition to videos, "Rap City" also featured freestyle and guest deejay segments.

Some fans feel the golden age for "Rap City" was 1994-1999, when Joe Clair and Big Lez cohosted.

But the freestyle era brought another boost after Big Tigger took over as host in September 1999 and the show was renamed "Rap City: Tha Basement." In Tigger's "freestyle booth," guest artists would improvise vocals on the set.

"Rap City" was created by BET veejay and producer Alvin Jones, also known as "The Unseen VJ." Jones originally hosted an R&B-flavored BET show, "Video Vibrations," and "Rap City" was an extension of the "Rap Week" segment ther