Local New Story Journal: Red Light District in Barcelona

Barcelona mayor Jordi Hereu has ruled out establishing official red light districts in the city. His comments come in response to the recent uproar over pictures published in Spanish daily El Paìs of prostitutes and their clients indulging in sex acts openly on the streets of Barcelona, around the historic La Boqueria market hall. Hereu commented on channel TV-3 that he thought there was no neighborhood in the city that would be willing to consent to prostitutes offering sex on its streets. The mayor also reiterated that the city was powerless to act against prostitution without a state law to regulate or prohibit the trade. Barcelona city has statutes for fines of up to €750 for sex workers or their clients. However, says the Barcelona Reporter, the city has become increasingly lax about applying them. Local residents and business leaders have urged the city to find a solution to the problem. I have been here in Barcelona for four months now and I don’t really too many prostitutes unless I go down Las Ramblas or around Barceloneta. I heard that prostitution is increasing here and Barcelona and many of the inhabitants want to change the law so it’s the same way as the red light district in Amsterdam. This is a major problem not only in Europe but all over the world; there is no real way of stopping it other than making it legal. I am opposed of prostitution but I think it’s a good idea because not only will it clean up the streets but it can help the government make money if they tax it. This is a very hard decision though for the mayor because he wants to make everyone happy in the city but also has to decide on what he wants.