Legitimate businessmen in northwest Dallas spoke out Monday about prostitution activity in their area.
They said nothing would come from an Oct. 11 update to Dallas city ordinances aimed at curbing the problem.
Even on a chilly Monday, more than a dozen provocatively dressed women could be seen within a few blocks north of Walnut Hill Lane and west of Harry Hines Boulevard.
Two businesspeople, a man and a woman, who conduct legitimate business in the area on a daily basis asked that their names and business locations be withheld due to concerns about past violence related to their sex business activities.
“When a customer comes to our office, that's not what you want. I would venture to say that if this had happened at City Hall, it would have been dealt with on the first day,” the businessman said. “It's human trafficking. Someone is making money. It's not the girls.”
On Monday, the men in a passing car appeared to be in the sex industry and were checking on the women, who may be victims of human trafficking, according to law enforcement officials familiar with the operation. It is said that there is a sex.
“These women are dying. They are being injured. They are being killed. And no one is paying attention. Meanwhile, our businesses are being destroyed by loitering and the violence that comes with it. '' said the businesswoman.
Business people said the activity had increased significantly since an “obvious” prostitution ordinance was struck down by a court in July as unconstitutional.
This allows patrol officers to issue citations to people deemed to be involved in prostitution activity, even if no sexual activity was witnessed.
The Dallas City Council approved an updated version of the ordinance that the city's attorney said will pass muster in court.
That day, Maj. Devon Polk of the Dallas Police Department's vice squad said the new express ordinance is a necessary tool for police departments working with social agencies to remove women from activities.
“My human trafficking unit is not large. I wish it was bigger. But our partnership with patrol is one of the ways we get our work done,” Park said.
City Councilman Adam Bazaldua voted against the revised ordinance, saying it would only further victimize women. He said police should take the necessary time to investigate human trafficking cases.
All other City Council members supported the latest law, including South Dallas Rep. Carolyn King Arnold. She said prostitution was also seen near schools in her district.
“I don't care about pimps, I don't care about Johns. This is about street sexting, and you can't do this around school,” Arnold said.
Police indicated that a new enforcement plan will be introduced under the new ordinance.
Business officials in northwest Dallas said they have seen little enforcement.
“If there are one or two arrests, it could be 50 people per day. So it has no impact at all,” the businessman said.
The businessmen said Dallas County District Attorney John Clouzot was invited to visit them and talk about crimes they say they are not prosecuting.
“And we weren't recognized,” she said.
A spokesperson for Clouzot said in an email Monday that Clouzot sent a message to neighbors saying they needed to contact city council members and Dallas police to make an arrest.
Dallas police spokeswoman Christine Lowman said in an email that the deputy chiefs could not be reached for comment Monday. She released her statement as follows:
“Enforcement plans are currently in the planning stages. The department continues its enforcement operations to combat prostitution throughout the city.”
