In a letter hand-delivered to the Senate Judiciary Committee today, Providence City Councilmen John Lombardi and Michael Solomon urged the Senate to pass a bill closing the loophole in state law that allows for indoor prostitution.

“I’d like to thank Representative Joanne Gianinni and Senator Paul Jabour for introducing this legislation,” said Solomon referring to H-5044 Sub A, which passed the House overwhelmingly last month, and its companion bill in the Senate. “As public officials, it is extremely important that we take a stand on this moral issue.

In May, Councilman Lombardi sponsored resolutions in support of the legislation. Lombardi spoke on the council floor of the need to ban prostitution in all its forms and the many dangers that the women who take part in the sex trade are subjected to.

“The women and children involved in this practice are victims, plain and simple,” said Lombardi, pointing to various statistics showing the plight of sex workers. “The average age that someone first begins working as a prostitute is 13. Two thirds of all prostitutes have been raped and three quarters have been physically assaulted. 75% attempt suicide and fully 15% of all completed suicides in this country are prostituted women.”

The councilmen stressed the particular importance this legislation has for Providence. In their letter they noted, “To our great dismay, it appears the vast majority of these ‘facilities’ are located in our capital city. After many years of challenging work to improve the city’s image and marketability as a desirable place to live, visit, and conduct business, this is not the type of activity community leaders envisioned.”