An Open Letter to Saint John City Council Regarding Jaywalking and the Sex-Trade

To The Mayor and Council of the City of Saint John:

I write concerning the motion passed on November 13, 2012 regarding the targeting of sex-workers for minor offenses, such as jaywalking.  I understand that the motion only requests a report from the Saint John Police Department about the viability of such actions. 

Nonetheless, I wish to express my strong opposition to any action by council that would single out sex-workers for jaywalking or other offenses. 

I will not use the word “prostitute” in this letter.  Our language is important.  This word lets us forget that we are talking about people, usually women, who are already marginalized in Saint John.  The passed motion implies that we are merely tidying up graffiti and litter.  It does nothing to help those in the sex-trade and completely forgets that we are discussing actual human beings.

Council chooses to acknowledge the presence and guidance of God through an opening prayer before weekly sessions.  You welcome God into the council chambers.  With this in mind, I echo a Hebrew prophet to make three appeals to you.  Addressing those who held power, the prophet Micah said, “What does the LORD require of you?  To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God,” (Micah 6:8, TNIV).

I appeal to council to act justly.  It is wrong to enforce anti-jaywalking laws to penalize specific people, while others can jaywalk without fear of penalty.  This enforcement seems particularly absurd because jaywalking is normally ignored in Saint John.  I cannot help but notice the irony in this motion.  Council has done nothing obvious to ensure pedestrian safety by addressing the daily and frequent jaywalking across five lanes of heavy traffic on Westmorland Road between Walmart and McAllister Place.

I appeal to council to be merciful.  I agree that something should be done to address the sex-trade in Saint John.  It is a horrible thing.  I hope council will re-evaluate its methods however.  Women in the sex-trade are rarely there by choice.  Instead of targeting already desperate and marginalized women, why not do more to address the unemployment, addiction, homelessness, and poverty that are so common in Saint John?  I cannot imagine a scenario where a jaywalking ticket has the power to end the sex-trade.  However, you do have the power to address the sex-trade in a way that is merciful to sex-workers.   

I appeal to council to be humble.  Saint John is richly fortunate.  Julie Dingwell of AIDS Saint John and Prof. Leslie Jeffrey of UNBSJ have spoken clearly and eloquently about the approved motion.  Each speaks from an authority that comes from a deep understanding of the causes, dangers, and abuses in the sex-trade.  Saint John has experts.  We would be mistaken to ignore their words and opinion.

I appeal to council to reconsider how it approaches the sex-trade in Saint John.

Sincerely,

Anthony J. Dickinson