Get the best experience and stay connected to your community with our Spectrum News app. Learn More. Republican state Assemblyman David DiPietro believes the program potentially encourages human trafficking and sets back the women's equality movement.
It's the exact opposite. This puts women on a second class scale. Furthermore, DiPietro believes the program is just the beginning. Over the past several sessions, lawmakers in favor of decriminalizing sex work have argued, among other things, it would free up the criminal justice system, make things safer for those who chose to work in the industry and allow them better access to things like health care.
The assemblyman believes this session, even past decriminalization, his colleagues will look to legalization. The moral standards have been totally corrupted by these people. DiPietro's Assembly district includes parts of southern Erie County but he says the program will affect his constituents. One is a historical landmark where they've had problems with prostitutes coming in and infiltrating their customers.
Finally, the assemblymember doesn't believe it's fair to offer sex workers free health and dental care when the population-at-large doesn't have the same opportunity. He said he and others in his conference will oppose it but they'll need collaboration across the aisle. The health department said it remains committed to providing support and services to all New Yorkers without stigma. It said individuals participating in the program often experience discrimination, violence and threats to their emotional well-being and are more vulnerable to sexually transmitted disease yet lack access to quality routine screening.
Evergreen Health did communicate with us but said it would not be able to accommodate our request for comment Wednesday. Open in Our App. Weather Alerts View full list of weather alerts. By Ryan Whalen East Aurora.
