Councilmember Cathy Moore (District 5) announced new legislation on Aug. 1, 2024 aimed at cracking down on commercial sexual exploitation and rampant and escalating gun violence associated with it. The proposal is in response the escalating gun violence and sex trade on Aurora Avenue and in adjoining neighborhoods.
How the legislation would work
The legislation would give police new tools to address the crime by:
- Creating a new loitering law targeting the buyers of commercial sex. Unlike Seattle’s old prostitution loitering law that was repealed in 2020, this legislation provides multiple grounds for arresting buyers whose actions are generating a highly lucrative sex trade; a trade so profitable that it is fueling regular gun battles over turf. As for sellers, the legislation makes clear that diversion, not prosecution, is the preferred approach for people engaging in prostitution.
- The legislation includes an entirely new offense of promoting loitering for purposes of prostitution, to target sex traffickers. This offense is a gross misdemeanor.
- Establishing a Stay Out of Area Prostitution (SOAP) around Aurora Avenue north of North 85th Street to North 145th Street. This means anyone arrested or convicted of a prostitution related crime could be prohibited by a judge from being in that area with limited exceptions.
Prior to drafting the legislation, Councilmember Moore met with many groups: survivors of the sex trade, SPD’s human trafficking unit, service providers, the City Attorney’s office and residents. Their feedback, particularly of the survivors, was invaluable and informed each provision of the bill.
Public Safety issues on Aurora Avenue
Councilmember Moore’s legislation got its first public hearing during the August 13, 2024 Public Safety meeting. During that meeting, Councilmember Moore presented the following video documenting the critical public safety issues, including gun violence, happening on Aurora Avenue connected with commercial sexual exploitation:
Councilmember Moore also recently interviewed Seattle Police Detective Maurice Washington about the public safety issues involving commercial sexual exploitation playing out on Aurora Avenue North. Listen to that full interview below.
How you can help
The legislation is scheduled to be heard for a second time in the Public Safety Committee on September 10 9:30 a.m.
- Sign up for public comment – As with all legislation before the council, it is very important for councilmembers to hear from the public.
- You can testify in person at City Hall on September 10 at 9:30 a.m. or
- You can provide testimony over the phone by signing up on this webpage. Phone sign ups begin at 8:30 AM on September 10.
- Email your councilmembers – Let your district representatives know that you support this legislation. Use the email address council@seattle.gov to reach every office at once.
For more information about providing public comments, please contact the District 5 Office at Cathy.Moore@seattle.gov or (206) 684-8805.
Background
- Press conference full video – 8/1/24
- District Newsletter – 8/4/24
Over the past year, gun violence on Aurora Avenue and in adjoining neighborhoods has escalated. In a span of 60 days from mid-May to mid-July, there were 31 shooting incidents in the area, according to the SPD count, and several more have occurred since. In June, a rolling gun battle on Linden Avenue from N. 101st to N. 96th left stray bullets in a child’s bedroom wall. Car windows have been shot out and houses peppered with bullet holes.
In addition to gun violence, assaults and intimidation along the Aurora Avenue corridor have become regular occurrences. Business owners along Aurora Avenue have been assaulted by individuals engaged in the sex trade after requesting them to leave the business’s property. Residents report being threatened that they will be “popped” after confronting individuals actively engaging in commercial sexual activity in front of their homes.
According to the Seattle Police Department (SPD), much of the gun violence is driven by the active and lucrative sex trade along the Aurora Avenue corridor. SPD detectives report that the net proceeds for a pimp per trafficked individual per day can be between $6,000 and $7,000. Seattle is widely believed to be second only to the notorious Figueroa Street neighborhood in Los Angeles in terms of the total street value of sex work.