San Francisco could create 'red-light district' in bid to legalize prostitution

Amid an ongoing problem with sex trafficking in San Francisco’s Mission District, one San Francisco supervisor is proposing the controversial idea of creating a sanctioned red-light district in the city.

Speaking with ABC 7, Santiago Lerma, legislative aid for Supervisor Hillary Ronen, said that Ronen is backing a plan to create this sanctioned sex work area, though no specific proposal or location have been announced.

"What we want to do is push our state legislature to legalize sex trade in California. This would allow localities to regulate the trade and keep people safe," said Lerma.

"She's very concerned about the situation out there right now. The last two weekends, we've walked out at night with some of the neighbors last week, we also walked with Assistant Chief David Lazar, who is also shocked at the magnitude of the situation," Lerma said.

The situation at 21st and Capp Street in the Mission has reportedly gotten worse over time, with manager Benson Lee saying that residents at the Bethany Center Senior Housing are afraid to go outside after 5 pm because of what they see.

"They are seeing people walk around with very little clothes," said Lee. "A lot of the time there's people having sex outside of their home. There are break-ins. It's gotten more rampant lately."

Lee told ABC 7 that a sanctioned red-light district may not be the way to go in addressing the issue.

The San Francisco Chronicle described what the area sees on a nightly basis: "presumed sex workers lining the sidewalks and spilling into roadways; traffic choked bumper to bumper throughout the night; and eruptions of violence, including at least one pistol whipping, according to officials and residents." 

"Well, we have a problem. But I'm not so sure that's the solution," said Lee.

This isn’t the first time that San Francisco has considered the idea. A ballot proposition in 2008 would have decriminalized prostitution, though that proposition failed.

Mission District resident Bertie said that the area across the street from him is a constant problem.

"It is constant. It is pretty much every night. Sometimes in the morning, you still see them around -- sex workers soliciting," said Bertie.

Bertie supports the idea of a sanctioned red-light district, and told ABC 7 he supports any effort to improve the situation on his street.

"You have to be conscious, these are people who are trying to make it like everybody else," said Bertie. "They have healthcare. They have benefits. I think it's very smart to-do. I'd love to see that happening here. They are here everyday. Really working hard. It's only fair to give them the opportunity to work in a better environment," he said.

While no official action has been taken in terms of the proposition, one street in the Mission District will be barricaded off in an effort to curb sex trafficking.

According to the San Francisco Chronicle, Capp Street will be blocked off by barricades between 18th and 22nd streets, where the issue appears to be most concentrated.

Ronen said that the barriers are meant to put an end to the "cruising zone" that has appeared in the neighborhood.

The blockade would resemble San Francisco’s "Slow Streets" configurations, which limit the number of vehicles on the road but allow residents access to their homes and garages.

Residents are pressuring the San Francisco police to take action, while police have blamed Sen. Scott Weiner for legislation passed last year that struck down a law against loitering "in a public place with the intent to commit prostitution."

"What these neighbors are going through is unacceptable," Wiener said in defense. "The situation has gotten very chaotic, and these neighbors deserve help. But SB357 did not cause this chaotic situation on Capp Street."