Cruise Bruise Blog
September 28, 2009
September 28, 2009
Cruising Right Into A Sex Offender Haven - San Diego's Dirty Little Secret
In a new investigative series, I take a look at the ports cruise ships depart from. These are places passengers are likely to stay at for a day or two as part of their cruise vacation. Beginning the investigation, it became clear early on, that not all ports address issues the same, especially when it comes to sex offenders.
The first city in the series is San Diego, California. I thought I knew San Diego and knew it well. Nobody was more surprised than I as the details of the investigation unfolded. This city has sold out their tourists, by creating the largest density of sex offenders in the county, all in one zip code. To be sure, I've never seen anything like it.
One address has thirteen sex offenders living at it, ten at another and eight more at a third address, all of them hotels, all in the tourist district, an easy stroll from the cruise ship terminal.
The sex offenders, 154 in all as of today, surround a huge upscale mall with 130 high end shops and restaurants, the convention center and are in the middle of the city's claim to fame, The Gaslamp Quarters with another 80 high end shops, restaurants and nightclubs.
They are the worst of the worst, over 80% have been convicted of sex crimes involving children age 13-years-old or less.
The location of San Diego sex offenders in tourist areas will surprise you, in an RV Resort on the bay, numerous exclusive Marinas, less than two blocks from parks children play in even in a high end Westin Hotel.
What is San Diego doing about it? Whether you are cruising in and out of San Diego or planning a land vacation there, this report is a must read. Read the full story here
