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Agenda Item
3 26-0742 Subject: Temporarily Restricted Street Closure From International Blvd.
From: Councilmember Wang
Recommendation: Adopt A Resolution Authorizing The City Administrator To Temporarily Close To Through Traffic 9th Avenue, 10th Avenue, And 11th Avenue Between International Boulevard And 15th Street, For A Period Of Six Months, Pursuant To California Vehicle Code Section 21101.4, To Disrupt Persistent Activity Associated With Sex Trafficking
Street closures do more to create unnecessary traffic congestion for neighbors who drive along this corridor than to end the sex trafficking that occurs there. As Shaun mentions in their comment, closing down streets merely results in the migration of sex trafficking, it does not address its root cause. If the City of Oakland wishes to address sex trafficking, the intent should be to alleviate the socioeconomic challenges that the individuals pursuing this work experience, rather than seeking ways to prevent them from making a living while disrupting the lives of other residents of Oakland. Invest funds into these communities, reduce overpolicing of these neighborhoods, and share resources with individuals through canvassing efforts that meet them where they are at. These aren’t easy solutions and will take years to bear fruits, but they are worthwhile and prioritize the dignity and humanity of our neighbors who are just looking for ways to earn a living during increasingly challenging economic times.
I live in Little Saigon. Before 2023, sex work was not visible between 5th and 14th Avenue. Once traffic diverters were installed on East 15th did sex work migrate to Little Saigon. The traffic diverters on East 15th only displaced sex workers, moving one issue for residents of East 15th to now, the residents and businesses of Little Saigon. It pits neighbors against neighbors. East 14th/ International is a major thoroughfare and multiple traffic diverters only inconvenience residents and local businesses. Customers of Long Hing Supermarket often have to turn right onto 9th Avenue in order to find parking so they can shop. They won’t be able to, if this proposal goes through. If the success metric of traffic diverters is 1) reducing the violence of those engaged in sex work and 2) the number of sex workers, traffic diverters is a resounding failure. Sex workers would just migrate across the street or towards the 20s and 30th, where there are more dark alleyways for them to hide and meet johns, immensely increasing their chances of rape and other sexual assault. Oakland can do better to provide a safe place for sex workers, while at the same time reducing coercion and sex trafficking. Conflating sex work and sex trafficking is a part of the problem, and something that such traffic diverters will never address and do nothing other than displacing sex work. The issue will still exist, traffic diverters or no. There is no endgame.
This works very well on E15th, and I believe will work well on International. I've heard the argument that it doesn't work, and that the sex work is displaced. Yes that will happen. But it's no longer on E15th, so the issue is solved on E15th. The place the diverters are implemented does reduce the loitering, littering, illegal dumping, speeding, sideshows by around 80-90% on E15th where its implemented. If the diverters go in, there will be more pros than cons. Our poorly designed streets allow easy in and out, and creating blockage will deter criminal activities. My neighbors on E15th did not like the diverters at first, but after a few months, they noted a much higher quality of life, and adapted to the different route home. They are also in quiet support of the diverters. Because it will keep people who don't have a good reason to be in our neighborhood to stay out of our neighborhood. I believe 6 months is not long enough. But if it works well after 6 months, would be great if it becomes permanent and have planters and maintenance with it.
Street closures do more to create unnecessary traffic congestion for neighbors who drive along this corridor than to end the sex trafficking that occurs there. As Shaun mentions in their comment, closing down streets merely results in the migration of sex trafficking, it does not address its root cause. If the City of Oakland wishes to address sex trafficking, the intent should be to alleviate the socioeconomic challenges that the individuals pursuing this work experience, rather than seeking ways to prevent them from making a living while disrupting the lives of other residents of Oakland. Invest funds into these communities, reduce overpolicing of these neighborhoods, and share resources with individuals through canvassing efforts that meet them where they are at. These aren’t easy solutions and will take years to bear fruits, but they are worthwhile and prioritize the dignity and humanity of our neighbors who are just looking for ways to earn a living during increasingly challenging economic times.
I live in Little Saigon. Before 2023, sex work was not visible between 5th and 14th Avenue. Once traffic diverters were installed on East 15th did sex work migrate to Little Saigon. The traffic diverters on East 15th only displaced sex workers, moving one issue for residents of East 15th to now, the residents and businesses of Little Saigon. It pits neighbors against neighbors. East 14th/ International is a major thoroughfare and multiple traffic diverters only inconvenience residents and local businesses. Customers of Long Hing Supermarket often have to turn right onto 9th Avenue in order to find parking so they can shop. They won’t be able to, if this proposal goes through. If the success metric of traffic diverters is 1) reducing the violence of those engaged in sex work and 2) the number of sex workers, traffic diverters is a resounding failure. Sex workers would just migrate across the street or towards the 20s and 30th, where there are more dark alleyways for them to hide and meet johns, immensely increasing their chances of rape and other sexual assault. Oakland can do better to provide a safe place for sex workers, while at the same time reducing coercion and sex trafficking. Conflating sex work and sex trafficking is a part of the problem, and something that such traffic diverters will never address and do nothing other than displacing sex work. The issue will still exist, traffic diverters or no. There is no endgame.
This works very well on E15th, and I believe will work well on International. I've heard the argument that it doesn't work, and that the sex work is displaced. Yes that will happen. But it's no longer on E15th, so the issue is solved on E15th. The place the diverters are implemented does reduce the loitering, littering, illegal dumping, speeding, sideshows by around 80-90% on E15th where its implemented. If the diverters go in, there will be more pros than cons. Our poorly designed streets allow easy in and out, and creating blockage will deter criminal activities. My neighbors on E15th did not like the diverters at first, but after a few months, they noted a much higher quality of life, and adapted to the different route home. They are also in quiet support of the diverters. Because it will keep people who don't have a good reason to be in our neighborhood to stay out of our neighborhood. I believe 6 months is not long enough. But if it works well after 6 months, would be great if it becomes permanent and have planters and maintenance with it.