A red-light district is part of an urban area where there are numerous sex shops, brothels, strip clubs, prostitutes, adult cinemas and other forms of adult entertainment. The term is famous in Netherlands with a world-renowned spot in Amsterdam. There are also districts like these in Germany, Thailand and other parts of Asia.
But a red-light district in Toronto? That is what one city councillor is proposing.
During an interview on a local radio news station Tuesday, former mayoral candidate and member of Mayor Rob Ford’s inner circle, Giorgio Mammoliti, suggests establishing a red-light district on the
Toronto Island.
Mammoliti argues that it would generate millions of dollars in revenue, it would be an out-of-the-place work for sex trade workers and it could possibly be a tourist destination.
Mammoliti further explained that Toronto Island residents, who also approved the city’s
only nude beach, do not have any problems with centralizing prostitution in their neck of the woods. He adds that the area is already experiencing problems in regards to massage parlours and prostitution so this would be the best way to regulate the industry.
View of Toronto's skyline from the Toronto Island.
“I’ve always suggested that the best way to deal with this is to create one area that is away from the rest of the city and residential community for the most part,” said Mammoliti, reports the
National Post. “If you do this properly and legally you would have a designated place that would work for the city as well, not just organized crime. Right now the only people taking advantage of this is organized crime.”
How would Mammoliti implement such a controversial idea? According to
680 News, he would install blinking red lights and possibly change the name of the area. “You could call it Sin Island, you can call it whatever you want. The reality is that if you did something like this the economy down here would skyrocket.”
Despite his call for the Islands as a focal point for prostitution, he noted that he is open to other areas in the city, reports
City News.
Will Toronto have a choice, though? The city is already facing a $784 million shortfall for the 2012 budget and massive cuts are expected, including
possible job losses at city hall. What does Mayor Rob Ford think of the idea?
