This story was reported for San Diego News Network on March 17, 2009.
Unlike the ample banks that are breathing through their bailouts, local prostitutes who aren’t getting the same assistance are feeling the economic heat get hotter.
The competition for clients is intensifying as the recession continues, local prostitute Shay aka Pocahontas said.
To beat the competition and appeal to clients, who are feeling the recession in their pockets, Shay, who did not want her last name revealed, said she has lowered her price for a “full-service” treatment from $300 to anywhere between $140 and $200.
The 21-year-old, who said she is a Santa Monica College student, markets her services on Craigslist. More sex workers are posting advertisements on the Web site under the “Erotic Services” section as well. The Web site stated it has that section at the request of viewers.
“There are a lot of girls on there now,” Shay said.
Shay said she serviced about 20 clients a week four months ago but now only has about 15.
There are fewer prostitutes on the street, or “track,” today but not on Craigslist, National City Police Dept. Lt. Lanny Roark said.
Shay said that she has never even considered taking the “track” route as Craigslist is most resourceful.
“Nothing is more efficient,” she said.
Most sex workers on Craigslist will charge $40 to $80 for oral sex or $80 to $300 for intercourse, El Cajon Police Dept. Lt. Mike Hook said. However advertisements will state that the services are in exchange for items, such as “roses.”
Although prostitution is illegal, it can still help the economy, San Diego State University economics professor Shoshana Grossbard said.
“It may have a positive effect given that the money the prostitutes earn will enter the economic cycle, and if men stop going to prostitutes that is likely to reduce the total amount spent,” she said.
“It is like other industries that are not recorded in statistics, but to the extent that money flows, it has consequences in terms of the monetary economy. Legalizing prostitution would increase the GDP, as the money earned by prostitutes would then get recorded,” Grossbard said.
Police have also felt the recession as less attention is given to prostitution because of a lack of officers, Hook said. The El Cajon Police Dept. had to recruit two La Mesa police officers to help with a recent sting operation. The operation, which found and arrested Shay, arrested two other sex workers for soliciting an act of prostitution, which is a misdemeanor.
Although Hook and Roark said they are both strongly against legalizing prostitution, Hook said that for most workers in the industry, “prostitution is their livelihood.”
In 2007, a total of 779 prostitutes were arrested in San Diego County, 2008 statistics have not been released yet. The City of San Diego led the number of arrests with 467.
Hoa Quach is the political editor for the San Diego News Network.