Proposition K to Legalize Prostitution Voted Down (San Francisco)

[Dudester]

From the Associated Press as seen in the San Francisco Examiner:

Voters in this liberal bastion have turned down measures that would have barred police from arresting prostitutes and name a local sewage plant after President Bush. San Francisco couldn't technically legalize prostitution since it's against state law, but Proposition K would have barred local authorities from investigating, arresting or prosecuting anyone for selling sex. Advocates said the measure would have freed up to $11 million the police spend each year arresting prostitutes. But opponents said it would increase street prostitution and allow pimps to run free in local neighborhoods. The mayor, district attorney, police department and much of the business community were against the measure. Proposition R would have renamed the Oceanside Water Pollution Control Plant as the George W. Bush Sewage Plant. Supporters said it would have been an appropriate memorial to a president they blame for national woes from the Iraq war to the slumping economy. The White House had declined to comment, but other Republicans have called the idea childish. Some critics pointed out the new name would have been unfair — to the hardworking sewage plant. San Francisco voters also decided against a measure that would have required the city to get all its electricity from renewable sources by 2040. But more controversially, Measure H would have required the city to study ways to reach those goals, including a transition to a municipal utility similar to those run by Los Angeles and Sacramento. Pacific Gas and Electric Co., the investor-owned utility that supplies electricity to most of Northern California, spent heavily to defeat the measure. Many San Francisco voters, however, backed a military-backed public school program that is slated to be phased out next year, after officials deemed it an arm of the military that recruits teenagers for an unpopular war. With all precincts reporting, more than 53 percent have voted in support of the Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps, but election officials say provisional and some absentee ballots have not been counted yet.

[ginko23]

Originally Posted by Dudester Many San Francisco voters, however, backed a military-backed public school program that is slated to be phased out next year, after officials deemed it an arm of the military that recruits teenagers for an unpopular war. With all precincts reporting, more than 53 percent have voted in support of the Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps, but election officials say provisional and some absentee ballots have not been counted yet.

One of my younger brothers, also retired military, is a JROTC instructor in Texas. I have also considered doing this. Many of these JROTC detachments are in inner city and other disadvantaged areas. The Instructors are often the only positive male role models that the students have ever had in their lives. The military instruction only lasts several hours per week. The majority of the time, the instructors are acting like surrogate parents to the kids. There is not a JROTC instructor that I have talked to that does not feel that this is the most important job that they have ever had in their lives. The minority instructors are particularly proud of their being role models for the young people.

JROTC is not basic training and indoctrination. One of their most important activities is training for the “Drill” competition held every year at Maxwell AFB in Alabama. The kids basically have free reign on their style of drill, while some units do traditional military style drill other do routines straight out of “Drum Line”. It’s about team work not about indoctrination.

There are some recruiting benefits in having this program in high schools, that can’t be denied. This is yet another attempt at the anti-military far left to shut down a program that they perceive is harmful to America despite the good it does. I would encourage everyone to talk to any student, parent of a student or JROTC instructor for their input.