Modern-Day Slavery in Shumway, and Anne McEnerny-Ogle's Courageous Response

My prayers are with everyone in Hough, my old neighborhood today, as police hunt for a dangerous murder suspect on the loose.

SHUMWAY SEX TRAFFICKING AND ANNE MCENERNY-OGLE'S COURAGEOUS CRUSADE  

Courtesy The Columbian, April 2, 2014. VPD officer removing evidence from a massage parlor in Shumway neighborhood.

 Vancouver City Council Member Anne McEnerny-Ogle is upset, and rightly so. She recently got her Shumway neighborhood organized, and with the help of fellow council members, the Vancouver police, and international anti-sex trafficking groups, got FIVE massage parlors suspected of sex trafficking in Vancouver SHUT DOWN. 

You may not think lil' ol' Vantucky would be a popular place for these sorts of "big city" things. However, with a population now exceeding 180K in City limits, and near 500K in Clark County, and given our geographic position straddling Interstate 5 (a major corridor in moving sex slaves north from Mexico and south from Canada into the US), its clear this is a major and horrific issue in our fair city that needs addressing. 

Anne, with the help of Vancouver City Council and our local "men and women in Olympia" (among them Speaker Pro Tem Jim Moeller, representing West Vancouver's (and Shumway's) 49th District, has gotten a bill before Olympia this year to CRACK DOWN on this nasty and immoral business. Anne puts her work on this issue like this: 

 

"As the saying goes, slavery didn't end with abolition.

 

Human sex trafficking is modern-day slavery and it's here in our community.

 

Our 21st Century pimps buy business licenses, set up shop in commercial strip malls, and advertise online.

Vancouver Councilors are going to Olympia to ask for help in ending slavery in Washington." 

 

Massage Parlor's Grand Opening in Gresham, offering Gentleman Specials

I am ashamed to admit (and humbly apologize again for) my disbelief when Anne first brought this very important issue to my attention - even to the point of laughing at her, rather than listening to what she had to say. I was wrong. Anne has got my full attention, and support, on this issue. Its my firm and earnest belief that I need to bear witness on issues of right and wrong that draw bright lines. This is one of those issues. 

 

Anne, the City Council, and our folks in Olympia working on this bill need everyone's FULL SUPPORT to get a bill passed up with our Legislature, and signed by Governor Inslee, this January 2015. Please join me in giving Anne what she needs to get this important work done. 

 

HELLO VANCOUVER! PICTURES, AND PRIDEMORE RESPONSE DELAY

 

O Vancouvria!'s interview with Senator Craig Pridemore, running for County Commissioner (District 3, West Vancouver) has been delayed til October 11. Craig is busy running for office. In the meantime, here are some exciting and fresh pics I took at Hello Vancouver!'s wonderful show last night, including one of Craig "doing the moves" with 18th District Dem candidate Maureen Winningham. Stay tuned for this Sunday, Sept 28, when we talk "tiny houses" with Bill Turlay and Vancouver city management, and sit down with Mike Briggs, Dem candidate for Brandon Vick's seat in the 18th District (north and east Clark County, including Camas and Battle Ground). 

 

Enjoy!