Residents and business owners along Figueroa Street in South Los Angeles are expressing increasing alarm over the overt presence of sex workers in their community. The issue, described as a long-standing problem, has become more visible, with young women soliciting clients along stretches of motels, even during daylight hours. This situation has led to community frustration and prompted action from city officials aiming to address the illegal activities and support the women involved.
Last month, demonstrating the community’s growing unease, local residents organized a march to highlight their concerns. Their protest underscored the dual nature of the problem: the welfare of the young women engaged in sex work and the disruptive influence of the illegal activities on the neighborhood. The march served as a public call for solutions and increased attention to the Figueroa Street area.
In response to these escalating community concerns, Los Angeles City Attorney Hydee Feldstein-Soto has taken legal steps, filing a complaint against the New Gage Motel. This 16-unit motel on Figueroa Street is alleged to be a locus for illegal activity. The city’s legal action is not intended to shut down the motel business entirely, but rather to curb and eliminate the illegal prostitution occurring on its premises. City Attorney Soto emphasized that the motel was given opportunities to rectify the situation but failed to take adequate corrective measures.
The complaint outlines specific measures the city requested the New Gage Motel to implement. These included mandatory parking placards for all vehicles on the property, the engagement of regular security patrols, and the installation of comprehensive camera surveillance covering all common areas, with remote access granted to the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD). These measures were designed to increase transparency and deter illegal activities within the motel’s vicinity.
Hitendra Bhakta, the owner of the New Gage Motel, defends his business practices, stating that he does not discriminate against customers but provides accommodation to anyone who requests a room, with limited exceptions such as the inability to provide identification. His attorney, Frank Weiser, further argued that the focus of blame should not be on the motel but on the broader issue of street loitering, which he claims has been a persistent problem for years.
Adding a layer of complexity to law enforcement efforts, the LAPD has cited challenges stemming from Governor Newsom’s “Safer Streets For All Act,” which decriminalized loitering with the intent to engage in prostitution. This legal shift has made traditional enforcement methods more difficult. In response to the city’s legal actions, Mr. Weiser has filed a counter-complaint in federal court on behalf of his client, seeking damages. He indicated a willingness to resolve both cases should a settlement be reached with the city.
Despite these legal challenges, the City Attorney’s office is collaborating with the U.S. Attorney’s Office to target alleged sex traffickers and those who facilitate illegal prostitution. Simultaneously, they are aiming to offer support and resources to help young women involved in sex work to find pathways off the streets. City Attorney Soto stated the city’s objective is to restore the Figueroa corridor as a safe and positive environment for residents, families, churches, and schools, emphasizing a desire to provide help without coercion and to avoid arrests where possible, focusing instead on dismantling the networks that perpetuate the illegal activities.
