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On September 11, 2008
Mayor Potter at his news conference recognizes the scale of increase in prostitution since the expiration of Pros. Free Zones on September 30, 2007.

His solutions:
1. Increased Missions (stings) and Prostitution Detail Cars.
2. Circuit Court = sentence = probation.
3. New Program = Service Coordination Team = resolve prostitutes problems = social services.
4. Citizens/ Volunteers = Community policing, foot patrols, trespass agreements and court watch.

Montavilla in Action Questions and Evaluation
1. Increased missions = How long will this be maintained? Cost per mission? How long will the detail cars be on duty? How many hours per day/week will detail cars be on patrol?
2. Circuit Court = Several problems. DA says there will be months (about 6) long lags between arrest and conviction. Prostitute continues to work. Pimps will move workers or individuals will leave. No ordinance = no fear of arrests. New pimps with workers will move in. No mention/penalty to "johns". i.e. Impound of cars, etc. No focus or mention of property's (i.e. motels or apartments) harboring pimps and workers.
3. Social services questions. How far will $500,000 go to serve how many? Total per budget span.
4. Reimbursement to citizens for costs of foot patrols, court watch (i.e. parking or transit costs, lunch, childcare)

Montavilla in Action continues to request the reinstatement of the Prostitution Free Zones as an emergency effort to stem the extreme increase in the illegal acts performed on our streets, in parks, behind business' and in school yards. We also question why no formal policy brief with details, i.e. implementation, inter-agency coordiation, a detailed budget, timeline for implementation. The rushed addressing of the problem reflects little focus on details. Seattle used our ordinance and it is sucessful.

We , Montavilla in Action recognize the mayors efforts, we believe reinstating the PFZ's is the most effective approach. Despite Mayor Potter's claims to the contrary, the PFZ has proven to be the most effective tool and does not relocate the problem to other neighborhoods.

posted 4 years, 8 months ago
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