The Benefits of Nye County Brothels
Posted by Christina Parreira on March 22, 2018
Despite the fact that brothels have been open in Nye County for over 40 years, a county commissioner is now questioning whether they should continue to exist. In a county meeting last week, commissioner Lorinda Wichman stated “Staff is looking into what it is costing the taxpayer to have legalized prostitution in Nye County. I asked them to compare what it is costing us to what we receive. My curiosity is to whether or not taxpayers of Nye County are subsidizing the brothel industry.” This was in the wake of the reinstatement of Dennis Hof’s license for Love Ranch which was wrongfully removed almost a month ago over a supposed violation which the state fire department ruled was non-existent. Love Ranch is back open for business, but now the very existence of the brothels is under fire. Has Wichman considered what will happen to the county without the brothels and all of the revenue that they bring in, and what about the working women and their families who will be out of a job? Has she considered the toll the illegal prostitution may take on her community, or the welfare and safety of women who may have no option but to turn to the street to work? Does the commissioner even care, or is this part of a political vendetta against Dennis Hof who is seeking the Republican nomination for Assembly District 36?
Since Wichman is curious about the numbers, here are some numbers she should take into consideration: In Nye County the brothels bring in approximately $140,000 per year just from the license fees and work cards. A substantial portion of this goes to the veteran’s association as well as local EMT services. While Clark County is losing money and resources by trying to combat illegal prostitution, counties where prostitution is legal are reaping the benefits. Brothels in Nevada serve approximately 400,000 clients a year and generate a profit of $35-50 million (Hausbeck, Brents & Jackson, 2006).
What about illegal prostitution, how does Nye County stack up to Clark County? An estimated 300-400 prostitutes are arrested each month in Las Vegas (Flowers, 1998). In 2009 there were 4484 arrests for prostitution in Clark County where it is illegal versus 1 in Nye county where prostitution is legal. Illegal prostitution in Las Vegas grosses approximately $5 billion per year versus the $35-50 million generated from the legal brothels (Flowers, 2011). It is estimated that up to 3,500 prostitutes are working unlawfully in the Las Vegas area at any given time (Brents & Hausbeck, 2007). The majority of arrests for sex offenses in Nevada, 77%, involve prostitution (Ruggieri et al 2007). In 2010 Nevada had the highest proportion of prostitution-related arrests in the entire US at 0.1384% with second being California at a significantly lower 0.0376% (Federal Bureau Investigation 2010). This is not the case in Nye County where prostitution is legal. However, if the brothels close, what does Wichman think will happen to the working women? Will they go on welfare? Will they begin working illegally?
The brothels also make great community partners. Every year the Nye County brothels take part in the “Bordello Poker Run” motorcycle event, and the brothels frequently take part in charitable events like the American Cancer Society Relay for Life.
If Wichman wants to test all of this with a vote, I urge her to do so; historically the people of Nye County have been supportive of the brothels, and Nevada voters in general are overall in favor of legal prostitution; they understand the benefit to the community. A 2011 poll conducted by Public Policy Polling found that the majority of registered voters in Nevada believe that prostitution should be legalized throughout the state, including 65% of Independents, 56% Democrats, and 51% of Republicans (PPP Report 2012).
Wichman is not only playing with peoples’ livelihoods but with their safety and welfare, and considering the numbers are not in her favor, I have to wonder what the true source of her curiosity springs from.
Christina Parreira
Christina Parreira, M.A., is a PhD student in the Department of Sociology at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. In addition to being an instructor and researcher, she is a proud legal Harlot.
Follow Me:
This was an very interesting read! The the benefits for keeping the brothels open, are far better than closing them down.
Leave it to an outsider! The outsiders just don’t get it. Go back to your state of origin; you’ll fit in better there, instead of trying to change a way of life here!
Amen, Steve!!!!
The problem in Nye, county is all political. The items that were brought to the Licensing and Liquor member were from an inspection conducted by the Nye County Sheriffs Department. Some of these so called violation are just retaliation by the Sheriff and two member of the Nye County Commission. I have been following these actions through the meetings of the County Commissioners. One alleged violation is a sign that has been in place for number of years ” advertising” the brothel. Now BLM has gotten involved and says the sign is on their property which . Mr. Hof acknowledges is correct but has been allowed to have this sign for a number of years in place. The other violations pertain to some of the building don’t have a manufactures mobile home tag on them . Then there is some kind of violation about adding construction to these structures . All of these year that Mr. Hof ran the Love ranch south there has been no issue about any of these violation until now. Why now? Because those in power in Nye county are being held to answer is a court of law for their actions against Mr. Hof. Yet the Other two brothels in Nye county( I will not name names) have violations yet they are not after their licenses. Most brothel in Nye county have the same violation when it comes to septic systems. ( another violation against the Love Ranch)
I think more people should research just how much every quarter Mr. Hof pay for his privileged licenses to operate brothels in Nye County. Let alone the other annual permits he must pay for to keep the doors open.
If Nye County doesn’t want legal brothels in their county any more go after all of the brothels not just the ones Mr. Hof owns. Mr. Hof has improve the brothels he owns in Nye County. The person whom he bought these places from ran them as dumps many many years . Now this is how Nye County wants to treat a respectful businessperson because of political differences?