PEORIA -- After reading a Peoria Journal Star column by Phil Luciano about the tax on strip clubs, in which Phil criticized the pay of state administrators overseeing rape crisis centers, Peoria author Burt Raabe penned an answer. It's based on his own experience, and worth reading:
"I am a fan of Nicholas Kristof, who writes for the New York Times. Many of his columns deal with sexual abuse and exploitation.
I worked for the Center for Prevention of Abuse (in Peoria) for 12 years and my wife contracted as a counselor there for several years. Neither of us worked in the sexual abuse field which is very specialized and highly skilled. The CFPA cannot exist on state funding for the services it provides. They must get grants, conduct a duck race and hope that other money will come in. As far as the ICASA is concerned, a salary of $69,000 plus $10,000 for some expenses is not that much for a director of a state agency. People in those positions are generally highly qualified with years of experience and are dedicated to their work.
My field was working with domestic violence offenders. I learned and passed on that treating women as objects is at the root of violence against women.
One of the prime examples of this behavior is Big Al's strip club. He takes vulnerable, often sexually abused, often drug addicted young women and exploits them for money. Simple as that. And that is supported and applauded by our city fathers as an example of a "business."
The casinos had to agree to contribute some of their income to the treatment of gambling addiction. They recognized that they would be creating a cost to the community as they exploited people in it. I think it should also apply to strip clubs that they help with the effects of their activities. Also, I do not accept that Al Zucharini is qualified to read a research study and make a judgement about it. (He claimed domestic violence and strip clubs are not linked.)
I think that emulating Kristof would serve the community better than taking dictation from Al Zucharini.
I am retired now and none of my opinions should be taken as representing the Center For Prevention of Abuse."
-- Burt Raabe
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