We all have a fetish . . .

[dr_kromm]

. . . and mine is for zombies. But I'm also happy to see latex, leather, etc., if it's for a good cause. In this case, the cause was a Save the Main event. These guys are campaigning to keep Montréal's red light district from being turned into yet more office space (we already have more than we can lease!). Anyway, part of Bonnie's baladi troupe was dancing in the evening's cabaret element, although the feature event was a fetish film festival as part of the Montréal Fetish Weekend.

The dance connection wasn't the only reason I went. As it happens, I believe that cities need red light districts. Tonight, I heard that lots of cities are bulldozing red light districts to make room for more offices. Well, I've seen that happen, folks, and the reality is this: It disperses the district's people and activities all over the city. If you're into this stuff, it becomes harder to find. If you're opposed to it, guess what? It ends up in your back alley. Either way, nobody wins . . . least of all the people who work there.

And that's enough politics for one night.

Comments

[whswhs.livejournal.com]

Here in moralistic California, I don't think most cities have red light districts. I know which street in my neighborhood is famed for its streetwalker population . . . but streetwalkers are a poor substitute, even for the streetwalker. Montreal's approach strikes me as more civilized. I'm glad to see an attempt being made to preserve it.

Of course, San Diego already has a large amount of half-occupied office and commercial space. But I doubt that would stop the city from encouraging people to build more, if we had any red light districts to tear down. The only thing most Californians have learned from the real estate bubble is that they want the government to bring it back.

[wombattery.livejournal.com]

Back when I was living in the Bay Area, there was talk of creating a purpose-built red light district. Appropriately, it was to be a place the Navy was pulling out of (Treasure Island, half-way along the Bay Bridge). There were enough moralists to keep it from happening, but it was, at least, a serious proposition.