Sex, drugs, and rock n roll.....the life in Cleveland that perpetuates the underground criminal industry....remains alive and well right under your nose in Cleveland.
Christopher Evans of the Plain Dealer wrote an article in the Opinion section of Wednesday, April 04, 2012's newspaper called, "A slice of Cleveland's low life". [1]The article and the comments on Cleveland.com's website are great reflections of the often unspoken truth about our 2nd District community at large: Prostitution.
This article reflects that sex, specifically street prostitution of women is one of the reasons that the 'West Side of Cleveland is "SO POPULAR" and downplays all those fancy new restaurants or bands that perform in our community. The comments thereafter range from legalizing prostitution to both contemptuous and compassionate people stating their positions about such a tough subject matter.
Directly across from this article on the same page under "Letters" is a note from Krissie Wells of Cleveland regarding "Ohio City's Compassion"....She truly speaks profoundly about the "Classism and Racism" that attempts to rule the community via their outspoken minority (Leadership) positions in the community...and she empoweringly reminds the public at large: "Don't let the outspoken minority, who speak with an underlying tone of racism and classism, lead you to believe otherwise."
Without it being cited, ultimately she is discussing violations of the FEDERAL FAIR HOUSING LAWS REGARDING "STEERING" out the less desirables from certain classist neighborhoods like Ohio City via the Community development people who support/don't support housing projects like the Emerald XIII Permanent Supportive Housing. (EDEN Housing predominantly serves the mental health population.)
While "Lorain Avenue" is known these days for lots of prostitution-it appears to serve the "men seeking women" population. Apparently, the writer did not get exposed to the prolific side of prostitution encompassed by the "Male to male" populace on Detroit Avenue and at all those wonderful places around the near west side...including some of the most elitist locations.
Exceptionally intriguing to this article is the discussion regarding the "Johns" who solicit the sex....and the comical statement regarding their "Inventive lying"....specifically the suburbinate married men. The lies of this world lead to so much more like the "Spread of disease", divorce, and other destructive forces like theft, abuse, and devaluated self worth of the prositutes. Imagine the dire need for intervention and mental health support for this group at large. Imagine the statistics of this industry that support federal grants for more cops on the streets and much more. What a cycle!
While most commenters seem to want the police to focus on the white collar crime of corruption; our local police continue to battle this archaic industry locally. Sadly, many of the people enslaved into this industry are the indigent, less educated, and addicted individuals who are codependent on this resolve to afford their own survival.
How do the local leadership conquer such dynamics? Do they continue to battle it against the odds so as to raise revenues through fines for our city? Is this how our City leadership is underhandedly affording its own survival in this economy(retaining revenues from johns and prostitutes)? Curious thoughts come to mind regarding this big business in NEO. Is legalizing this industry a possibility that this City would entertain after legalizing gambling here?
Prayers for all the victims, people and enslaved populace who remain entrenched in this industry for whatever reasons. May humanity remain with you during the challenges you endure.
Links:
[1] http://www.cleveland.com/opinion/index.ssf/2012/04/post_78.html