Salinas to discuss “Red Light Abatement” ordinance to address increase in sex workers in certain neighborhoods

SALINAS, Calif. (KION) - Salinas council members are discussing a new ordinance they believe could help address people's concerns about an increase in sex workers in certain neighborhoods.

"The traffic caused by people trying to pick up girls sometimes causes accidents. Sometimes the girls aren't properly dressed, they show a lot of parts of their body," said Maria Chavez.

Salinas is considering an ordinance that would ban properties from allowing sex workers to engage in their activities on their property.

Salinas police and a report from the city attorney says they're targeting hotels and motels. But it won't target sex workers, specifically.

"There's a Senate Bill that's really kind of tying our hands up, but we're not going to take no for an answer because we know that this is a big issue and we're going to continue to get creative and finding solutions," said Orlando Osornio, Salinas city councilmember.

Chief Roberto Filice said they're also working to help the sex workers out of the situation they're in.

Hugo Zamudio works in the area and says although this new ordinance is a step to help combat the issue, more needs to be done.

"This city, I know I've been talking to them, too, and and I've been asking if there's any other type of codes that we can bring it up and start working with the police department and start seeing what cause civil code we can enforce. So that way we start pushing this activity out of this area," said Hugo Zamudio.

People are also concerned about kids being exposed to this kind of activity.

Police add those who are caught soliciting services from sex workers will be prosecuted.

City council will discuss this ordinance on Tuesday. The final details of which will be debated then.

City of Salinas discussing solutions to combat the rise alleged prostitution

SALINAS, Calif. (KION) - People in a local community are calling on Salinas to help with what they say is a sex worker issue plaguing their neighborhood.

A report on the data on sex worker offense trends shows an increase in violations over the last two years.

Many people in the area of Kern and Kings Streets in Salinas say it has gotten out of control.

"They're using our parking lot. Like if it was like a motel, you know, they leave a lot of trash, they leave condoms," said Marta Ortega who lives in Salinas.

One Salinas mother said she and her family are seeing the activity at nearly every hour of the day.

"I've seen girls since this morning, like 7 a.m., 8 a.m. when kids are walking to school," Ortega.

They are not just on the streets, but on their doorstep.

Read more: Protest held after alleged rise in prostitution in East Salinas

"It's just not okay for them to be coming into our doors and knocking for services," said Ortega.

According to the Salinas Police Department, it has gotten harder to arrest sex workers or anyone involved ever since last year. That’s when Governor Gavin Newsom signed a state law to decriminalize loitering that appears to be sex work.

"That's why you see more sex workers, if you will, out on the street, because they know it's no longer an offense within California as far as getting targeted is cited misdemeanors. And they now freely walk around," said Brian Johnson, commander for SPD.

The most they can do is enforce the city code which is loitering for the purpose of engaging in a prostitution offense.

"We have a Salinas city code that we use which will give them a citation. However, it's an infraction. So it's just like running through a stop sign," said Johnson.

I asked the city if they were planning to do anything to stop this from happening.

"There's been a lot of prompted discussion around what we can do to make sure that we're working together to find a solution. We're talking about things that can be done like barricades that can be there to block the streets if we need to more lighting so that folks can know that they're being seen. Maybe video cameras is an option, maybe signage," said Orlando Orsornio, Salinas City Councilmember.

Orlando went on to tell KION he has had personal issues with the alleged sex work in his district.

"I have a three-year-old daughter and me and her mom had to explain to her because she looked out the window and said, mommy, mommy, naked. And so she can she's already at that age, and she's able to identify that these women are not dressed appropriately. It's a really big issue," said Orsonio.

SPD says they have been adding extra patrol in the area where they receive a lot of calls for sex work.

Within the last year, SPD says they have issued about 40 citations with the city code.

Salinas Police Chief Roberto Filice said that they make an effort to arrest people seeking services and offering sex workers help.

"When we can prove the crime, we go after the men soliciting the services," said Chief Filice. "Likewise, we offer help to these young ladies and hope that they take us up on the offer. The majority of them are there by their own choice and not being trafficked. We try to help them move out of that situation, but we cannot force them. They have to want it."