Does Toronto Need a Red Light District?

The other day there was a bit of a hullabaloo when councillor Giorgio Mammoliti (Ward 7, York West) suggested that Toronto should get itself a red light district. Although the idea has been floated before, it was his suggestion of the location that seemed to shock most people: the Toronto Islands.

It's understandable that the idea was met with some criticism given the family-friendly nature of the Islands, but the idea of legalizing prostitution itself does have several health and safety benefits for those who work in that profession. I think a red light district in Toronto wouldn't be a terrible thing for the city, but I'm also not sure where it would go. Since it's already (mostly) on Jarvis, it doesn't seem to make much sense to move it to another part of the city, but I'm not sure what the legalization of prostitution does to a neighbourhood, albeit one that's already pretty shady at night.

Have any readers ever been to places where prostitution is legal? Where do you think a good place in the city would be?

Either way, since most councillors and the mayor himself have not exactly warmed up to the idea, it isn't likely to happen any time soon.

Photo (and likely accompanying interesting story) by Photosapience.