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California progressives want to block a brand new bill that would recriminalize road loitering for the goal of prostitution.
SB 1219, authored by state Republican Sen. Kelly Seyarto, would reinstitute a provision beforehand taken out of California’s penal code that prohibited loitering in a public place.
San Francisco Democrat Scott Wiener beforehand authored that bill, recognized as SB 357, or the Safer Streets for All Act. Gov. Gavin Newsom signed it into regulation in 2022, however critics say the regulation has promoted brazen prostitution and intercourse trafficking on metropolis streets, such as in Oakland, San Francisco, Los Angeles and San Diego.
Following the general public security listening to on Tuesday for SB 1219, Seyarto instructed Fox News Digital he launched the bill “in an attempt to offer resources to victims of human trafficking.”
Prostitutes prowl San Diego streets as households, companies compelled to scramble.
“They need our help to get out of their dangerous situation, and we should use every tool at our disposal to protect them,” Seyarto mentioned. “Prostitution is illegal in California. Neglecting victims for the sake of not inconveniencing criminals is bad public policy. I am disappointed that the bill did not even get a motion for a vote in committee.”
Meanwhile, Wiener mentioned the aim of SB 357 was to forestall law enforcement officials from profiling loiterers based mostly on their appears.
“This is literally one of the more pernicious kinds of criminal laws that if you’re simply standing around dressed in a certain way, your hair is in a certain way, your make-up is in a certain way — if an officer subjectively thinks that someone is engaging in sex work, they can arrest you, and I find that kind of crime to be offensive.,” he mentioned.
SB 1219 would not solely create penalties for loiterers, but in addition would punish motorists who try to solicit prostitutes for the aim of intercourse.
Los Angeles police sources who beforehand spoke to Fox News Digital mentioned the present regulation is “definitely” handcuffing them from cracking down on prostitution. The police mentioned that due to the reform they’ll solely make arrests if a suspect admits to prostitution, which they mentioned is a rarity.
L.A.’s Figueroa Street, additionally recognized as “The Blade,” for instance, has turn into inundated with prostitutes and pimps, in accordance to the police. Pictures that have circulated extensively on social media present younger ladies carrying thongs and fishnets, typically with their breasts uncovered whereas standing and even twerking in broad daylight on road corners.
During Tuesday’s listening to, a number of proponents of recriminalizing loitering argued that with out reinstating the penalties, ladies will stay particularly weak to intercourse trafficking.
Alleged prostitutes in National City, California, will stand in the streets to assist entice a john, in accordance to the town’s mayor. (Ron Morrison )
“SB 357 has had many unintended consequences,” mentioned Opal Singleton, president of anti-trafficking group Million Kids. “One of those is a massive increase in the amount of human trafficking activity taking place in California. This is a serious public safety issue, and we need to address it.”
Singleton mentioned many metropolis leaders and mayors have shared how pimps, gangs and cartels are bringing “van loads of girls in from across the USA to conduct commercial sexual services in our communities.”
Several representatives from regulation enforcement businesses, together with the California DA’s Association, Riverside County Sheriff’s Department, San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department and the San Francisco Police Officer’s Association, help SB 1219.
A “Prostitution Free Zone” signal is displayed in a window in California. (David Paul Morris/Bloomberg through Getty Images)
Meanwhile, a number of social justice teams are opposing the bill, together with the American Civil Liberties Union. A spokesperson for the group, Becca Cramer-Mowder, mentioned Tuesday that SB 357 is not the explanation road prostitution has elevated throughout the state. Instead, she mentioned excessive prices of housing and the reversal of COVID-19 help have pushed individuals to prostitution.
“Sex workers are often parents working to support their children and rates of survival sex work would be greatly reduced by addressing the housing crisis and building a stronger social safety net,” Cramer-Mowder mentioned. “Arresting sex workers for loitering does not help anyone, it only helps hide people from view and makes all sex workers, including those who are trafficked, more vulnerable to violence and abuse.”
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Fatima Malika Shabazz, a transgender LGBTQ+ activist of Decrim Sex Work California, mentioned SB 1219 would “kill people” and “put them at risk.”
California Public Defenders Association and the San Francisco Public Defender’s workplace additionally oppose the bill.
However, two different payments in California’s decrease legislative chamber have additionally been launched to repeal SB 357, citing stories of regulation enforcement businesses who’ve reported an uptick in criminal activity surrounding prostitution rings. At the time of its passage, Newsom mentioned his administration “must be cautious about its implementation.”
“My administration will monitor crime and prosecution trends for any possible unintended consequences and will act to mitigate any such impacts,” he mentioned on the time.
Fox News’ Emma Colton contributed to this report.
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