There's at least one area where we agree with Gov. Jim Gibbons and his political mantra of "no new taxes"regulating and taxing prostitution in urban areas, especially in Carson City, which currently doesn't allow brothels within its borders.
As the 2009 legislative session nears next week, politicians on both sides of the aisle have said the state should consider all revenue-producing options to deal with budget problems.
Sen. Bob Coffin, D-Las Vegas, head of the Senate Taxation Committee, said he'd listen to proposals to legalize and tax prostitution in urban counties, including Carson City, Washoe and Clark.
"You cannot stop it," Coffin said about prostitution, "but maybe you begin to treat it like practical human beings would treat it."
State laws allow brothels in counties with populations less than 400,000 people, so, unlike its larger county brethren, Carson City does not need state approval.
In the 1980s, the city created a 700-acre adult entertainment district in the industrial area on the east side of the city. Strip clubs and adult theaters are allowed with a city-issued permit.
Between that zone and the existing legal brothels just outside city limits in neighboring counties, we think both residents and tourists have plenty of options to satisfy their prurient needs.
Several city officials, including Mayor Bob Crowell, said they are opposed to allowing brothels within the city as a means to bolster municipal coffers and the state treasury as well.
We know the economy is dire and times are tight, but we wholeheartedly support our new mayor on that thought.
In a city that has prominently promoted itself to visitors as an attractive place to live, dine, shop and conduct business, we find it difficult to believe there's a large appetite to amend that campaign in the future to include "... and don't forget the legal prostitution."
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