I heard from a provider that the city of Berkeley is trying to legalize prostitution. Does anybody have info on this?

I believe there will be an initiative on a ballot in a future election to vote on this, but I might be mistaken.  I've heard about this but don't have any specifics available to post.

Peace...

There may be a measure on the ballot that would allow voters to "legalize" prostitution. But passage of the measure would not actually leagalize the activity. At best, it sends a message to the legislature that the people don't think this should be illegal. See the link for a CNN article.

BERKELEY (AP) -- Initiatives to decriminalize prostitution and give medical marijuana patients more access to cannabis are going before Berkeley voters.

Berkeley City Clerk Sherry Kelly says both initiatives have gotten the required number of signatures to qualify for the November second ballot.

The Sex Workers Outreach Project is backing the prostitution initiative and a group of cannabis club operators are sponsoring the Patients Access to Medical Cannabis Act.

The City Council will consider the items next month but initiative proponents aren't optimistic the council will approve the controversial plans.

Both initiatives need a simple majority to pass in November and organizers said yesterday they believe Berkeley voters will support their causes.

There is an initiative that will be on the November ballot to decriminalize prostitution in Berkeley.  This is not the same as legalization.  Decrim would essentially mean that the Berkeley PD would make 647b a non-priority, and that cases would not be prosecuted.  It would still be illegal, but the law would not be enforced.  Decrim is what most sex workers want, by the way.  Legalization usually ends up creating an exploitative system, such as the brothels in NV, wherein providers lose the ability to run their own businesses as they please.

This is from the initiative.  You may read it in its entirety at:

http://www.swop-usa.org/proposedinitiative.html


12.27.040 Law enforcement priority of prostitution statutes.

The City Council shall seek to ensure that the Berkeley police department gives lowest priority to the enforcement of prostitution laws. If other portions of the Berkeley Municipal Code require “lowest priority” enforcement levels, such as the enforcement of marijuana laws, this section shall not be construed to elevate enforcement efforts against those acts.  Instead, this section shall be interpreted to require equally low priority for the enforcement of “lowest priority” acts.