Marcus L. Bennett reported that Los Angeles city and county officials will try to root out sex trafficking along Western Avenue between Olympic and Santa Monica boulevards under a new initiative announced Tuesday.
At a Glance
- New initiative focuses on Western Avenue, a hotspot for sex trafficking.
- Legal shift targets buyers and traffickers, offering harsher penalties.
- Collaboration with nonprofit Journey Out aims to free and rehabilitate survivors.
- Why it matters: The crackdown seeks to protect minors and dismantle the local trafficking network.
Los Angeles officials unveiled a comprehensive plan to dismantle the sex-trafficking ring that has plagued Western Avenue, a stretch that runs from Olympic to Santa Monica boulevards. The announcement followed growing concerns from residents who reported frequent sex acts in front of their homes and the presence of used contraceptives littering the streets.
Community Concerns
The initiative was sparked by neighbors in the Larchmont area who voiced alarm about the visible presence of sex workers, buyers, and traffickers.
- A resident recounted seeing sex acts in front of his house.
- He noted that discarded contraceptives were scattered along the avenue.
- The community expressed a desire for safer streets and protection for minors.
LA City Attorney Hydee Feldstein Soto emphasized that the new approach would help sex workers while holding traffickers and buyers accountable.
> “We shift the criminalization from the trafficked victims to the johns, the buyers, the exploiters, the predators and the profiteers,” Feldstein Soto said in a news conference with other officials Tuesday.
Legal Strategy
The city’s legal approach marks a significant change. Traditionally, the LA city attorney’s office could only charge buyers with misdemeanors. The new partnership with the LA County district attorney’s office expands the scope, aiming to send sex buyers to state prison.
> “We will be relentless in going after you to make sure that you understand that you are a cause of this problem,” said LA County District Attorney Nathan Hochman. “If the demand did not exist, there would be no incentive for these pimps and predators to go ahead and take advantage of these young girls and make them effectively their slaves, because they would not be getting any money in exchange for that slavery.”
The district attorney also plans to create a registry similar to Megan’s Law, publicly listing those convicted of sex solicitation.
> “Your name and your picture will now be broadcast to the entire world, exposing your sickness for going ahead and basically being part of an industry that is preying on young girls and young boys,” the DA told sex buyers.
Key Legal Actions
- Criminalization shift: From victims to buyers and traffickers.
- Increased penalties: Potential state-prison sentences for buyers.
- Public registry: Exposing convicted individuals nationwide.
Collaboration with Journey Out
City officials also partnered with Journey Out, a nonprofit dedicated to freeing sex workers from traffickers and providing rehabilitation services.
> “It is imperative for there to be collaboration amongst different entities within our city to best help serve survivors of human trafficking,” said Nayeli May, Executive Director of Journey Out. “Providing survivors vital resources and different options is crucial, and we need to approach this with compassion and sensitivity.”
Journey Out will offer:
- Immediate safety for trafficked workers.
- Rehabilitation programs to help survivors rebuild their lives.
- Support services such as housing, counseling, and job training.
Public Resources
Victims, witnesses, and anyone with information about trafficking are urged to contact the National Human Trafficking Hotline.
| Hotline | Phone | Text |
|---|---|---|
| National Human Trafficking Hotline | 888-373-7888 | 233733 |
The hotline is available 24/7 and provides confidential assistance and resources.
Key Takeaways
- The initiative targets a specific geographic area known for trafficking.
- Legal reforms aim to hold buyers and traffickers criminally responsible.
- Collaboration with Journey Out expands support for survivors.
- The public registry and increased penalties signal a tougher stance.
- Victims can seek help through the National Human Trafficking Hotline.
The combined efforts of city and county officials, legal authorities, and nonprofit partners represent a coordinated attempt to end the cycle of exploitation on Western Avenue and safeguard the community.
