Amsterdam Becoming Less Sexy?
Ah, Amsterdam, a city better known among college-age backpackers for its XXX district and marijuana cafes than its beautiful canals and Anne Frank legacy. But not for long, if Mayor Job Cohen has his way.
Cohen announced today that the city's year 2000 legalization of prostitution didn't have the intended effect of making sex workers any safer. It's time, he says, to try a new tack including permits for brothels, a higher minimum age for sex workers (21, from 18) and a crackdown on sex-trade businesses with Mafia ties.
Can this be a good idea? Will it lead to a precipitous drop-off in Amsterdam tourism, or will visitors simply avail themselves of what remains--a la the New York City of 2007? And will libertarian and Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul comment on it?
Related Stories:
· Amsterdam to Clean Up Red Light District [Yahoo]
· Anne Frank's Tree Gets Reprieve [Jaunted]
· Amsterdam Travel coverage [Jaunted]
[Photo: goobertron]
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