Writing to Jim Larkin, the CEO of Village Voice Media, which operates Backpage.com, Seattle Weekly, and other properties, Mayor Mike McGinn and Seattle Police Chief John Diaz sent a stern letter and memo today that charges Backpage.com is contributing to the problem of child prostitution. This year alone, they say, four cases of child prostitution in Seattle were openly advertised on the website.

"Backpage.com needs to realize that society will no longer tolerate inaction and ignorance," writes Diaz. (Read full the letter and memo here.)

Children as young as 12 are solicited for sex within 48 hours after leaving home and Backpage, the mayor and chief say, accelerates that problem. Says Diaz: "Many are presented on Backpage.com with everything but a price tag. The profit to Backpage.com for the carte blanche access? Millions of dollars in revenue. The profit to the child victims? Nothing."

Diaz says a "simple solution" would be requiring Backpage to check photo identification.

"It's time to reexamine your policies," McGinn tells the Village Voice CEO. He also asks Larkin to sit down to "work toward a solution."

McGinn and Lt. Eric Sano, who leads the Seattle Police Department's vice crimes unit, are holding a press conference at 3:30 p.m. You can watch it here.