Visit A Prostitute? - Get Your Face On A Billboard

[matcom]

<snip>

Residents and merchants in Oakland's Fruitvale neighborhood are mad as hell and are not going to take it anymore. Sick of johns cruising International Boulevard at all hours, driving down property values and creating a market for the sex trade, when there are not enough real jobs to go around, Oakland is about to strike back with a new weapon: shame.

Those caught by surveillance cameras and convicted of solicitation will be at risk of having their faces plastered on bus stop signs or even 10-foot by 22-foot billboards. Clear Channel is providing the advertising space.

"I tell people who say to me that prostitution is a victimless crime they should know about the 217 under-age girls who were arrested for prostitution in Oakland last year," said Oakland City Council President Ignacio De La Fuente. "We're going to shame the out-of-towners and locals who drive to our neighborhood to look for prostitutes," he said.

When is it appropriate to shame or humiliate someone who commits a crime?

Shaming and shunning were popular punishments in 17th century colonial America, when jail was largely unknown. Punishments such as exhibition in the town square in stocks were public on purpose -- conducted in front of a like- minded community that shared the same values and, most likely, the same pew and pastor. Fornication was the most commonly punished offense.

Most remember this scenario from the tale of Hester Prynne spun by Nathaniel Hawthorne in "The Scarlet Letter.'' She was required to wear the letter "A" sewn to her dress wherever she went, alerting all to her sin of adultery.

"The Scarlet Letter'' is still inflicted on high school students coast to coast. But Hawthorne's tale of colonial adultery is better contemplated later in life.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2005/03/13/ING8CBNC1J1.DTL

[joeybee12]

1. Clear Channel, huh?

Might've known.

[autorank]

2. Just think of the billboard generated by Jimmy/Jeff "Gannon"

et al

[Rabrrrrrr]

4. It would the entirety of the Pacific Coast Highway!

[davidinalameda]

3. if they'd do this for all crimes, then I would have no problem with it

but doing it only for those caught in prostitution stings is wrong

[autorank]

5. Oh, no...you mean speeding tickets too! No, that violates my 2nd

Amendment rights to bear arms.

[davidinalameda]

9. I'm guessing you're joking

but I don't quite get it

[autorank]

11. dwickham, You've got me on the horns of a dilemma as they say.

I can either admit to irrational fire arms attitudes or fess up to an inept sense of humor. It's actually the later. I was musing what it would be like to have my face on multiple bill boards for my multiple tickets.

[Radical Activist]

6. There's one way to publicize your campaign.

If you're running for office you can get your picture on a billboard for free!

[LoZoccolo]

7. Pimping is the worst part of the prostitution industry.

Are they doing anything about that?

[mongo]

8. Is public stoning far behind?

How long before the xtian theocrats establish "biblical" punishments for
crime?

Actually, as someone that has to put up with streetwalkers and corner drug dealers, I do feel for the people in the neighborhood.

But if they want to dimish the problem, then the residents should take to the streets and kick these people off the street corners.

I do it all the time. I HAVE to keep the hookers (which were here long before I was) away from my adult business to not be judged a "nusience".

and I haven't been shot yet...

[davidinalameda]

10. and this is coming from the Jerry Brown administration

who more than a few people in California forum think is god

[Debi]

12. Well, then, Matcom...comb your hair

and make sure there's no spinach in your teeth!!! :hi:

[11 Bravo]

13. LOL!

[th2techdude]

14. Jeff Gannon should be on a billboard.....

Yeah. There's a thought. Some guy who once ran a male escort service. McClelan and Gannon! That would make for an interesting ad ("If it happened to us, it can happen to anybody!").

[baldguy]

15. Like this?

http://vn.kominet.ru:8101/Pic/bush-billboard.jpg

[RetroLounge]

16. Tell me that's for real...

RL

[Magrittes Pipe]

17. You mean like when I go to mom's house for Christmas?

:shrug: