Brooklyn Assemblyman Felix Ortiz Asks For Strip Club Tax To Help Victim Of Human Trafficking

Brooklyn Assemblyman Felix Ortiz is proposing a hefty $10 tax for patrons of strip bars. To be doled out in singles. Ortiz says the revenue would help victims of sex trafficking… somehow.

The tax applies to any establishment that serves food and drink and features nude or partially nude dancers. So, if Hooters waitresses perform the electric slide when they bring in your chicken wings, are you obliged to form over ten dollars? Does this tax apply to Go-Go dancers? So many questions.

Some people are unhappy about this proposed, and skeptical about what, exactly, it will be able to accomplish in terms of providing aids to victims of human trafficking. Writes the limber and cherry-flavored “Ezekiel12:”

This is soooo stupid. Why not put a tax on all those Latino and Russian bars and restaurants where girls are paid to dance, too? And how will those stop human trafficking? The traffickers will simply demand a higher price for their cargo or kidnap more girls to cover the added cost. What a dumb idea.

We’re also not entirely sure what this will do except maybe dissuade would-be patrons from visiting law-abiding strip clubs. Ortiz, however, is convinced this tax, if approved, will set precedent for other states to follow: ”Moneys generated have the potential to be a tremendous boost to these groups. Through this bill, New York State will continue to forge a path for other states to follow.”

This seems a little like a “shaming” tax to us and we’re not sure it’s wise to conflate all dancers and strippers to victims of human trafficking. Shrug. Think it’ll work?

Brooklyn Assemblyman Felix Ortiz calls for strip club tax [Daily News]