Cambridge City Councilor Paul Toner must resign. He should have done it weeks ago.

But Cambridge prides itself on being a “Sanctuary City” where not all laws apply, so Toner is hunkering down.

Sure, he deserves his day in court for being accused of paying for sex. He’s one of the so-called alleged “johns” who authorities say were regular customers at a high-end brothel. Stepping down as a city councilor is not an admission of guilt, however. It’s just the decent thing to do.

Sadly, decency isn’t part of the equation, and the opinions are pouring in from Cambridge residents.

Some are protesting Toner’s continued presence on the City Council, and those appeals were entered into the record at last night’s meeting.

“His continued presence on the Council erodes public trust,” one letter writer stated.

Others say they are “appalled and deeply saddened,” adding Toner has “abused the trust” of Cantabrigians.

One resident states more bluntly: “We can’t stay silent when leaders like Paul Toner are making decisions about our schools and children.”

Adding, “While there are so many wrongs being committed in the world, I ask you to stand up for what is right and moral in our corner of the universe.”

Only in Cambridge can one differentiate between human trafficking and illegal immigration. Too often, the two are conjoined. But, as you’d expect, not all the letters are anti-Toner.

“Paul Toner should not resign. Paul has made a mistake in his life and will have to live with that for the rest of his life. His mistake has nothing to do with his role on the city council,” a letter in support reads.

Toner has already said he is not stepping down. He’s a past president of the Massachusetts Teachers Union and a former school teacher, but allegedly paying for sex is a private matter. Or so the argument goes.

It’s not and has never been. Exposing sex buyers is as old as any Red Light District.

But the facts in this case challenge the status quo. The 33 men called before a Cambridge court for allegedly buying sex for $600 an hour were the ones who texted — or “communicated” with the brothel purveyors, one lawyer said — at least 400 or more times.

That’s obscene.

This isn’t a case about a few randy guys. It’s prostitution on a giant scale.

Each of the 33 men is charged with a single count of engaging in “sexual conduct for a fee.” And, yes, that includes Toner.

It’s a farce that the Cambridge City Council doesn’t have enough courage to force Toner off the board. If he’s found innocent, he can run again. Heck, he can run for mayor.

But for today, it’s about time for Cambridge to stop pretending to be an oasis of enlightenment and be have some guts. Demand that Toner step down.

Sex trafficking has “grown exponentially” since the dominance of the internet and the online porn industry, one site states. The nonprofit goes on to say that tens of thousands of women and children are “forced into sexual slavery in the United States every year.”

Those numbers vary, but one is too much. Cambridge needs to lead by example. Show the children in the city that they do have a voice. Push Paul Toner out.