Wow! I've been gone a while! So sorry guys... what with going on vacation then going back to work, it's been crazy lately.

I just sent in this letter to the editor of the Telegraph, not sure if it'll get published but here you go just in case it does not:

August 11th, 2008 I wrote a letter to the editor that stated that going after these massage parlors was the right thing the do. I still feel this way. If you agree with me then it is urgent that you be at the City Council meeting this Monday for the public hearing. Plenty of people have argued that this is a waste of time and that prostitution does not hurt anyone, so who cares? But the fact of the matter is that a 17 year old girl was found in one of these spas, and prostituting anyone under the age of 18 is considered to be the trafficking of a minor . Minor’s cannot make decisions for themselves, and therefore it is considered automatically to be sex trafficking. 17 years old is a senior in high school. A 17 year old is your daughter, your friends daughter, is the daughter of someone you know. As for the argument that these women may or may not be trafficked from other countries, even if we cannot prove that these women are here illegally, that they are here of free will, prostitution is illegal. If you do not agree with that, then have your state legislators pass laws legalizing it in the state of Georgia and tax it. I’m sure we could take care of our budget problems that way.
But I ask you this: tell me why, if these women are here legally and not committing illegal acts, would these massage parlors have bunk beds in the back of their office spaces? Why do you not see these women coming and going from the massage parlors? Why would one have to be buzzed in? Why would men be afraid to be seen walking in? Why would some men be parking in the back of the building to be let in? I think we all know what is going on in these places of business. And we all know prostitution is illegal, regardless of whether these women are here illegally. And if there is the slightest chance these women are here illegally, then the chance is also there are they are sex slaves- bottom line. I don’t really think the issue is that people want to keep these parlors open, I think they don’t care enough to act. Why are we so apathetic? I know yall don’t like the idea of these places. So get down to City Hall. Support this ordinance, even just with your appearance. If we had this same attitude during Jim Crow, then we would not have made the little progress we have made. If we had this same attitude in the early 1800’s, women would not have the right to vote. Please, make your voice be heard for those who cannot speak. Just like I said before- our elected officials would be doing for these women as the abolitionists did for the African slaves.