Amsterdam to close up to half its brothels and marijuana cafes to drive organized crime out

[Jenna]

Amsterdam unveiled plans Saturday to close up to half of the famed brothels and marijuana cafes in its ancient city center as part of a major cleanup operation.

The city says it wants to drive organized crime out of the district, and is targeting businesses that "generate criminality," including prostitution, gambling parlors, "smart shops" that sell herbal treatments, head shops and "coffee shops" where marijuana is sold openly.

"I think that the new reality will be more in line with our image as a tolerant and crazy place, rather than a free zone for criminals" said alderman Lodewijk Asscher, one of the main proponents of the plan.

The city said it would also reduce the number of business it sees as related to the "decay" of the center, including peep shows, sex theaters, sex shops, mini supermarkets, massage parlors and souvenir shops.

The city said there were too many of these and it believes some are used for money-laundering by drug dealers and the human traffickers who supply many of the city's prostitutes.
FIND MORE STORIES IN: Netherlands | Amsterdam | Lodewijk Asscher

Asscher underlined that the city will remain true to its freewheeling reputation.

"It'll be a place with 200 windows (for prostitutes) and 30 coffee shops, which you can't find anywhere else in the world — very exciting, but also with cultural attractions and you won't have to be embarrassed to say you came," he said.

Under the plan announced Saturday, Amsterdam will spend $38-$51 million to bring hotels, restaurants, art galleries and boutiques to the center. It will also build new underground parking areas for cars and bikes and may use some of the vacated buildings to ease a housing shortage.

Amsterdam already had plans to close many brothels and said last month it might close some coffee shops throughout the city, but the plans announced Saturday go much further.

Asscher said the city would use various techniques to reshape the area, including rezoning, buying out some businesses and offering others assistance in "upgrading" their stores. In the past, the city has shut a number of brothels and sex clubs, relying primarily on a law that allows the closure of businesses with bookkeeping irregularities.

He said the city will also offer help for prostitutes and coffee shop employees who lose their jobs as a result of the plan.

Prostitution, which has spread into several areas of the center, will be allowed only in two areas — notably De Wallen ("The Walls"), a web of streets and alleys around the city's medieval retaining dam walls. The area has been a center of prostitution since before the city's golden shipping age in the 1600s.

Prostitution was legalized in the Netherlands in 2000, formalizing a long-standing tolerance policy.

Marijuana is technically illegal in the Netherlands, but prosecutors won't press charges for possession of small amounts and the coffee shops are able to sell it openly.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2...s_N.htm?csp=34

[pgg]

But I thought if you legalized everything there would be ZERO crime?

[2 Blue 4 U]

It will also build new underground parking areas for cars and bikes and may use some of the vacated buildings to ease a housing shortage

That should be interesting, for the most part holland is below sea level, which can make for one soggy basement!

Amsterdam is a beautiful city to visit, there is a lot of history there, just in architecture alone. Even the seediest parts of the city were clean. The fascination with the Pros is not like it used to be, at one point it helped tourism, but not any more. It has been that way for a while now, they were trying to make some parts an ecentric fashion district, not sure how well that is going. I have not been there is a while but I do remember plenty of freaks hanging out by the main post office across from the Royal houses. There was also plenty of drug transactions going on there as well, Hashish anyone. Definitely an interesting place.

[gopherpuckfan]

But I thought if you legalized everything there would be ZERO crime?

x2

People in favor of legalizing prostitution and narcotics say that if you regulate and tax it, then you get rid of the criminal element. Guess not

[Jenna]

But I thought if you legalized everything there would be ZERO crime?

Well if you legalized everything and a crime is defined as something which is not legal, then by definition there would be no crime!

[pgg]

Well if you legalized everything and a crime is defined as something which is not legal, then by definition there would be no crime!

Cool, I propose that I get to shoot stupid people on the spot. Boy I wouldn't have many customers left

[Jenna]

Cool, I propose that I get to shoot stupid people on the spot. Boy I wouldn't have many customers left

Nor would you have many bullets left!

[Terminator]

COUGHrhinoCOUGH

[Rhino]

The problem is these things are not completely legal, even in Amsterdam. You can't make things "kind of legal" and expect sunshine and rainbows. Amsterdam, contrary to what those that are for prohibition say, is not a good example of drug legalization. It never has been.

Amsterdam's approach to drug legalization was similar to that of the failed ban on assault weapons: it didn't do a damn bit of good. It kept honest citizens honest while the criminals kept being criminals.

[Retmilleo909]

Well if you legalized everything and a crime is defined as something which is not legal, then by definition there would be no crime!

A crime is a crime regardless of how it's defined and no one can legalize an act contrary to the standards of justice, honesty, or good morals.

[CTR man]

Cool, I propose that I get to shoot stupid people on the spot. Boy I wouldn't have many customers left

Nor would you have many bullets left!

Never a shortage of bullets or stupid people these days so it seems.

That should be interesting, for the most part Holland is below sea level, which can make for one soggy basement!

Just out of curiosity, comparing those parts of Holland to the parts of Louisiana that got hit the hardest during Katrina, how often does Holland get flooded? Are their dams and levees superior to ours? Or am I comparing Apples to Oranges here?

Kitty and I used to have some acquaintances that wanted to expatriate to Holland because of the liberal views on drugs that they seem to have over there. Needless to say they didn't stay in our MHP for long. They were evicted for non-payment of rent. Too bad, so sad. Our manager had to evict her own brother.

[2 Blue 4 U]

Just out of curiosity, comparing those parts of Holland to the parts of Louisiana that got hit the hardest during Katrina, how often does Holland get flooded? Are their dams and levees superior to ours? Or am I comparing Apples to Oranges here?

Kitty and I used to have some acquaintances that wanted to expatriate to Holland because of the liberal views on drugs that they seem to have over there. Needless to say they didn't stay in our MHP for long. They were evicted for non-payment of rent. Too bad, so sad. Our manager had to evict her own brother.

For one thing no one in New Orleans wanted to stand their plugging the hole in the dam to prevent the floods.



I believe New Orleans has turned to the Netherlands to see the way they work their Levies, dikes and dams. The Dutch have been managing their water levels for years, I am not so sure if they have better technology, probably just better methods and management. Most of the country is built up. In addition to water, they have issues with sinking land. They do suffer bad winters with storms from the North Sea, surges can be up to 13 feet. They do not have hurricanes though.

Funny you mentioned it, I met an expatriate while I was there in the late 70's. I did not ask questions and the only info they revealed was a difference of political opinion and he was asked to leave. He and his wife were quite eccentric and I just figured he may have been a draft dodger. By the way he was from the left coast.

[CTR man]

By the way he was from the left coast.

That doesn't surprise me in the least. We have some real wackos out here.

[2 Blue 4 U]

That doesn't surprise me in the least. We have some real wackos out here.

No shortage of them here either. You do not see too many hippie types, although you do see them come out for concerts like The Greatful Dead and Allman Bros but they may be commuting.

We had some protests with in the confines of the Precinct where I worked, Amadou Diallo shooting for one. Protesters came from all over and there were several Anti-Establishment, Haters, Socialist parties who came to participate. They would try to get in you face, hook your child to set you off. They really wanted that, but you take it with a grain of salt and keep a good sense of humor. I just kept smiling thinking to myself, well you racist hate spewing Mother F**ker, hope you get your sorry ass mugged on the Train Ride home! But they would find a way to blame the cops for the too. Anyway, my point is these folks looked like they just stepped out of the 60's, peace mon, peace!

[CTR man]

Yes it seems that most of the hippies are out here on the West Coat. A good part of them are in the Emerald Triangle (Northern California Coast, above SF to Oregon border) where PGG works. He says he has made many a hippies bad day when placing them under arrest for various drug violations and etc.

They will always find a way to blame the cops or anyone else for whatever happened due to their stupidity. Pass the buck is their name of the game. They need to look in the mirror for that blame placement.

One has to let it roll off their back and keep a good sense of humor about themselves, Otherwise they win.

[Car 4]

Oh My God!!! The europeans finally figured out that drugs and prostitution lead to Organized Crime?

WTF, Over. We have know that since 1776.......it just never ceases to amaze me.



Car 4