Oppose SB 782
1) Proponents of SB 782 point to a study commissioned by the Texas Legislature in 2009; yet, that very report states, “no study has authoritatively linked alcohol, sexually oriented business, and the perpetration of sexual violence.” Judith Hanna, an anthropologist and author of “Naked Truth: Strip Clubs, Democracy and a Christian Right” has worked as a volunteer for over a decade with a program for victims of sexual assault, and yet she says, “I never, nor have others in the program, known of a sexual crime victim related to a strip club.” She’s quick to point out that “there is a plethora of evidence that clergy have committed sexual crimes against women, boys and girls.” Where’s their sexual violence tax? Salon: Taxing strip clubs for rape
2) Since most of the dance clubs in California engage workers with independent contracts instead of employee status, who will pay this tax leaves open the very likely possibility that entertainers will bare the economic. This group of workers have engaged in many successful class action lawsuits over the years that always result in judgments against owners for misclassifying the mostly female workforce to recoup the fees they paid to work, therefore any tax schemes involving this class of workers could bring legal questions of liability to the governmental body that imposes any tax. Here is a recent example. Dancers Awarded 13 Million
3) Rape crisis centers have aligned themselves with police in anti prostitution sting operations. http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_22178520/emeryville-six-adults-arrested-two-children-rescued-prostitution BAWAR Rides Along in Anti Prostitution Sting operation This activity is problematic on many levels.
a) Questions about application of privileged speech with rape crisis counselors in the context of these criminal investigation where,
b) police are often engage in sexual touching with those they are investigating for prostitution as this legal under the entrapment laws.
c) Prostitutes who are actual victims of rape are treated as criminals in stead of victims: Victims Compensation Fund Regulation 649.56
4) Rape crisis centers, California Coalition Against Sexual Assault and Cal EMA have track records of unaccountability. a) In a 2010 audit, California Coalition Against Sexual Assault was woefully failed to achieve the promised results,” Chick said. “And nearly half of the money they spent was not used properly”, by the Inspector General. CalCASA received $300,000 from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act but did not complete three of the four objectives the stimulus grant paid for, the audit found, including several trainings and publications. The audit says the group spent more than $48,000 on things not permitted by the grant – including a $2,000 camera and a consultant who was paid $9,500 through a noncompetitive bidding process. Sexual Assault Non Profit Criticized
b) See enclosed emails from a rape victim to Bay Area Women Against Rape and Cal EMA and their responses.
c) In 2007 San Francisco Commission on the Status of Women held back grant monies for a time from San Francisco Women Against Rape as a means to hold them accountable. President Andrea Shorter stated that she didn’t want to take that action but it was the only action she had available to hold them accountable.
d) Cal EMA, the administrator of these types of rape crisis centers, have no over site mechanism. There is no grievance process offered by Cal EMA or the nonprofits who are supposed to be serving the public as rape crisis centers that are funded with public money.
e) Cal EMA doesn’t respond to public request for information. See request letter dated March 8, 2013. It is for these reason we urge legislators to oppose this ill conceived tax.
It is for these reason we urge legislators to oppose this ill conceived tax.