New CA Law Impedes Police from Addressing Overt Daytime Prostitution, Mayor Reveals

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National City, California, is grappling with a burgeoning issue of public prostitution, a situation that the city's mayor, Ron Morrison, attributes to the recent enactment of a contentious state law. According to Morrison's account to Fox News Digital, the streets of National City are now often the stage for women scantily clad in nothing but g-strings, flagrantly soliciting in plain daylight, sometimes performing provocative acts visible to freeway traffic.

This alarming change follows California Governor Gavin Newsom's approval of Senate Bill 357 in July 2022. The law, effective since January, nullified an erstwhile regulation prohibiting loitering with the intention to participate in prostitution. Mayor Morrison contends that this legislative change signaled to pimps that their illicit activities could now proceed with negligible interference from the police.

Upon the law's ratification, Morrison described an immediate shift, noting an audacious flaunting of the new norm. This has spurred public outrage, with citizens demanding action against what they perceive as blatant indecent exposure. However, California law restricts charges of indecent exposure only to instances where genitals are explicitly revealed, rendering the local authorities virtually powerless.

National City, a diverse, working-class community near San Diego, isn't unfamiliar with issues related to prostitution. Yet, the mayor underscores an unprecedented increase in such activities, characterizing the current situation as exceedingly brazen.

The prostitutes' visibility peaks during early morning hours and around 3 p.m., often dangerously close to traffic lanes, partly facilitated by another recent state law decriminalizing jaywalking. Morrison shared a personal encounter where he was forced to navigate around a woman, scarcely dressed, obstructing his vehicle, highlighting the audacity fostered by the new legal landscape.

Local enterprises, from small shops to major hotel franchises, have expressed dismay to the mayor, citing the overt prostitution as detrimental to their operations, driving customers away, and compelling establishments to issue refunds to offended guests.

Central to the turmoil is Senate Bill 357, slammed by Morrison as a foolish enactment he mockingly dubs the "Safe Streets for Pimps Initiative." He asserts that the law not only emboldens street-level sex work but also spurs human trafficking activities. The mayor's critique extends to the broader implications of the bill, condemning its perceived facilitation of exploitation, including child sex trafficking.

Despite the fact that prostitution remains illegal in California, Morrison argues that Senate Bill 357 has effectively decriminalized it, barring police from initiating contact for reasons related to suspected prostitution. This, he says, has left the police force hamstrung.

In response, Morrison is coordinating with the district attorney and local law enforcement to strategize solutions within the confines of state legislation. Despite the complexity and resource demands of effective countermeasures like "john stings," the community's frustration is palpable, placing immense pressure on local authorities. The mayor voices a sense of restraint, a feeling of being handcuffed by directives from higher up the governmental ladder, as the local populace clamors for action.

In recent years, California has been at the epicenter of progressive legislative reforms under the leadership of Governor Gavin Newsom. While many of his policies resonate with liberal ideals and are celebrated by supporters as bold steps toward social justice and equity, there's a growing concern among various constituencies about the unintended consequences these laws are having across the state. From the decriminalization of certain offenses to changes in laws related to sex work, the impact of Newsom's legislative agenda is a hotbed of debate.