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Het Parool, the largest newspaper in Amsterdam, published another article by Tony against the enemies of the Amsterdam redlight district the Wallen.

‘Het Parool’ published an article by Tony last thursday against the ongoing attempts to gentrify our beloved redlight district. If our local counciler Lodewijk Asscher has his way the sex workers have to make place for yet another mainstream area with shops and galleries. There is really a hostile takeover taking place where this crusading counciler is using dirty tricks and misusing public funds. In his slipstream the vultures of big business are preparing to invade. ‘Het Parool’ was so friendly to publish the article with a nice headline and photo. It’s yet another phase in the struggle; we do what we can…

Tony had a visit today by Lodewijk Asscher, the city counceler who runs the cleanup of the old center, including the redlight district. He is an ambitious politician, who claims he is driven by the fight against crime and forced prostitution. But what he actually does is trying to gentrify the neighbourhood by making life harder for marginal groups who traditionally found refuge here like prostitutes, homeless people, alcohol and drugs addicts and leather gays. Trying to get them out of here. Turning it into a controlable middle-class friendly area. Making it bland. But he won’t admit it of course. He is slick, like all politicians. Tony wonders if he wasted his time or not. But it felt allright that the guy came by to listen to him.