No, I'm serious. Really. Let me explain.

I live in a relatively decent area with one distinct feature: it's across the street from a brothel in Niederdorfli. In and of itself, it's no big deal - they're always friendly enough, though I have to admit, some of what I see on Sunday mornings can be frightening.

I've noticed for the past several years that there is a woman who stands on the street corner at the end of the block (Zäringerstrasse and Häringstrasse) offering her services. She's also friendly enough, though she hasn't yet figured out, despite offering 2-4 times per week for 2 years, that I'm not going to buy. Maybe I just look like the desperate type?

Of late, however, we now have something like 5-6 women working the other three corners of that intersection. It's starting to get a bit crowded, and the neighborhood is feeling decidedly seedier (maybe it's just that these girls dress like crack hoes instead of the somewhat nicer garb the first one wears). On top of that, the presumed clientele seems to be rougher - first a bike was trashed, then the last two nights in a row, vespas have been knocked off their kickstands and onto their sides at that intersection.

Given all that, I'm thinking it might behoove me to try to bring it to the attention of the police, who are frequently present during the day but never (that I've seen) at night. I don't want the situation to keep getting worse.

Before I do that, though, I want to determine if any laws are being broken. I don't know if there's a legal maximum hooker density or a necessary permit and registration or anything, but I don't think that the light vespa vandalism will be enough to bring the boys and girls in blue around.

On a not-really-related topic, does anyone know anything about the MZAH parking garage on Häringstrasse? It's closed, and there's a sign saying that parking there is forbidden by the police since March of 1997, but I haven't been able to find any information on why...

Cheers
Lance

There is an area plan where women are allowed to offer their services on the street - this is limited to the Sihlquai area. Niederdorf, although it has a lot of cabarets and a few "Saunas", is NOT an area where street prostitution is allowed.

hehehe, you're my direct neighbour! I know exactly the hookers you mean, though I've never been approached or seen any trouble. Then again I might not look like I've got the 27 chfs/bag of crack necessary.

Hah. I'm in building 16, which one are you in?

I don't suppose you know anything about that parking garage next door then, the one that's underneath our back yard (assuming you're on my side of the street)? It seems odd to have it there, but to have it completely closed, when parking is at such a premium in this city.

Thanks Kittster. That's good info.


Edit: yes, I'm aware that I gave a pretty good indicator as to where I live, though I didn't actually tell you which street. No, I'm not terribly worried about it - my name is Lance McGrath, and you can probably find my address in the phone book.

Sounds like you know a bit about it, eco. I'm suprised - I thought it would be a lot more expensive than that in Switzerland.

I was recently taken round a whistlestop tour of Zurich by a friend, and saw the Langstrasse for the first time. I have to say, I was a bit suprised. I didn't realise Zurich was so debauched. And apparently, Olten is even worse.

What with that and the needleparks I keep hearing about, my opinion of Switzerland is rapidly evolving. No wonder they like their secrecy, half the nation is selling sex to pay for the smack that they buy from the other half.

And there was me thinking they were all so straight.

So why is there such a high demand for prosiution and drugs in CH then? Is it just because everyone can afford them? Or is it something else? I mean, I've been to Amsterdam and Hamburg many times, but they pale in comparison. And they are much, much larger cities, that dwarf Zurich.

And, well, the women working can start at 16 here, the fairly high prices attract women from all over Europe, there is no legal regulation for what you can actually offer (outside of animals and young kids, I find 16 far too young), etc. Zurich and Switzerland in general is a veritable hub for those buying and selling sex.

It has been raised to 18 now.

Prostitutes should be at least 18 says the Cabinet

Should be is not "must" quite yet but I'm glad they are finally adressing this.

If you are the guy in the avatar then.......hammer ---> nail

Corbets actually lives at 16. This does not bode well...

From Swissinfo:

That's an easy one to answer.

You've got lots of folks not working and what better business than getting into prostitution.
For the girls its quick money, and some make bloody good money, and so do those who hire them.

Than you've got all those directors of all sorts who love to go for a quicky and then you've got all those singles wanting some too and the bored ones wanting some action.
It is all very simply really. Nothing new under the sun.
When people are bored to bits, nothing else to do, they get busy and obsessed with sex or crime for a kick or thrill, you get the givers and the takers,
which all actually makes them only miserable at the end. It is simply business or the need to do at least something. You don't need to look much further than that.

That's another top post, Ms Sada. Thank you.

I don't know that unemployment's that high here, I mean it's 20% in Spain and Berlin, for example. But everything else makes sense.

So what you're saying in a nutshell is that it's because there's loads of really bored, single, rich, miserable people in Switzerland.

Wonder why that is...

Maybe it's displacement activity, following the smoking ban

yeah, that,
or they've become so brain dead they can't think of moving their butts in some other creative way ...

ha ha ha, a pun and a double entendre, all rolled into one. Genius.

You good at dancing, by any chance Sada? Can you wind?

A quick google search showed up that the neighbourhood you live on is quite dense in Brothels and Night Clubs/Cabarets....

So well, if you chose to live at the rivershore you might get wet....

It is perfectly legal, the cops would not do anything.

However the colateral violence could be more worrying and maybe you can go to the police station and report it, just in case it gets worse.

Are you sure about that? I'm pretty sure that I recently read somewhere that it's actually legal in some part of the Niederdorf.

As it turns out, Mark is right. I dropped the police a letter about the street hookers and the increasing vandalism, and got a response today.

(any spelling errors are mine)

There was more to it, including giving me more information about how prostitutes are licensed (um, thanks for the info) and telling me that they'd increase the patrols in the area to hopefully deter some of the crime, but the above says that it's legal in this area during the night.

I'm not terribly surprised (as pointed out, there's quite a few "establishments" in this area), but I'll cross my fingers and hope for a decrease in the crime! Thanks for the input, everyone.

is this really a problem?

i must admit that maybe i'm not the most knowledgeable in this area, but i've never seen any such girls who look remotely younger than 20.