I lived amid prostitution in SF's Mission district for a couple of years, and I'm talking flagrant, streetwalking prostitution with condoms in the gutters everywhere. I wouldn't seek to interfere in the operation of it if I were you. Chances are there is nothing you can do to change any one of their minds individually. They have each made a choice and think it's the best one for the moment. If you want to make a difference overall I suggest offering your help to an organization that works on the problem. They have more information and resources and you could actually really help there as opposed to taking on a pimp and his 4 ladies solo.

In my experience, the worst thing was when Johns came around. We got these scary guys walking or driving around. My girlfriend had a hard time there. Johns would drive up to her on the street and try to get her into the car. The worst.

We called the cops about it a couple of times but we were told multiple times that the San Francisco DA is not interested in prosecuting prostitution cases. The beat cops know this and so they don't really bother to arrest, because what's the point? It's all part of the way-lefty San Francisco community not wanting to crack down on sex workers, which is a fine and noble cause. But simply tolerating status-quo prostitution and all its open sores is a poor way to go about it.

I hope you figure something out. Beware of getting on bad terms with your neighbors under any circumstances. IMHO the "prostitution" you're seeing is not affecting your son right now. Making the people across the street angry at you might.

We had a crack house across the street from us for a while. We had a pretty much live-and-let-live attitude for a while, until the various dramas and arguments and fights started spilling outside. A few calls to the cops, and a few visits by them to the house, quieted things down--the residents didn't want the attention, of course, so they kicked out the trouble makers. After a while, the cops shut the place down, and now it's for sale (cheap!).

I'm seconding what scarabic said.

Thirding what scarabic said. It is a shitty situation but I sincerely doubt that there's much that you could do to change it.

If it bothers you, go at it in a different and less personal manner. It may not be your business to address this particular group of people, but there are women stuck in this situation all over the country right now. Why not find and contribute to an organization working to help them leave prostituin the city?

Here ya go

I have a vaguely similar situation right now. I live in an established (140 year old) neighborhood and it is for the most part quiet. Still, just behind us across the ally we border on is an area with a business district and a few homes. Two of the homes are rentals and a place on the next block is a business block with apartments above (typical of that street).

The rental house half a block down was bought by a local nutter who runs for mayor every election. He is known as the Bacon Man. He goes from bar to bar selling bacon and sausages. He bought the place from a retired doctor and set up a business with no zoning or permits. The city made him close it down and since then he has been renting it out to a series of odd balls. After the last one moved out there were 6 abandoned vehicles and loads of car parts in the back yard.

On the first of the month the business block rented out a vacant apartment. Next day the ally was full of broken beer bottles, 3 broken lawn chairs, a smashed car battery, and a grocery cart.

The place directly behind me is owned by a nice but a bit feeble man I am guessing is in his 80's. He has rented it to a series of losers. About three tenants ago he rented to a women with two huge dogs that were left to fend for themselves in the backyard 24/7. Her beau came by and drained his car oil in the ally behind my house.

Now it is occupied by a drug dealer. A middle aged man, wife, and teenaged daughter and son. About 20 people a day come on foot, bike, and SUV to buy.

I started harassing the cliental a few months ago. I stand in the ally and wave and say HI! If they park behind my garage I repeatedly open the garage door to dent their cars.

Tonight I went out for a walk and some sod was passed out in the ally. I would have looked in on him but two large Rotweilers were standing over him.

I called the cops on passed out guy and I can see the lights and hear something going on.

I will call the cops on drug guy too (a bit sad as they are the only ones to rent the place and take care of it, but I have had enough).

If the cops don't do anything in 30 days or so I will use other tactics. The manager of one of the local TV stations lives across the road.

I will not accept criminal behavior as OK where I live. Fuck that. Things seem to be getting a bit bent and I don't accept that.

As I review this I realize this probably won't help you much. Sorry.

by a local nutter who runs for mayor every election. He is known as the Bacon Man. He goes from bar to bar selling bacon and sausages.

Wow. This is legal? Sanitary? Does he MAKE the bacon and sausages? Are they raw or cooked? Does he hang them inside a trench coat like watches and say "pssst. . .bacon. . .nice bacon today" or what?

Please I must know more about the Bacon Man.

Oh--I should also mention The Laser Pointer of Justice. Whenever there's some minor drama in the street or alley, I find that a little laser pointer action often breaks things up. No one can see where it's coming from, but it lets the folks know that someone is watching them.

Apparently it is legal rainbaby. He has a converted mini school bus and he goes from divey bar to divey bar selling processed meats. People must be buying from him as he has been at it for something like 30 years. He is always in some sort of fight with city hall and he runs for mayor a lot. A real character.