Members xenophile Posted July 8, 2008 Members Posted July 8, 2008 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 Quote
