San Francisco residents sue city over rampant sex work

San Francisco – A group of San Francisco residents filed a lawsuit against the city to stop illegal activities in their neighborhood.

Inner Mission District residents say conditions along Shotwell Street have worsened, with the area overrun with sex workers, public intoxication and other illegal behavior after dark.

Although Shotwell Street seems quiet during the day, residents say it’s a different story at night.

Residents have documented the activity in photos and videos showing people they say are sex workers and drunks, as well as urinating in public. Some have joined forces to sue the city, filing a complaint on Tuesday.

“I’m not going to go into details,” said Ayman Farahat, one of the plaintiffs in the case. “The main point we’re making here is that there are laws in place and if someone had done what the city is doing, they would be in serious trouble.”

The lawsuit alleges that the city has illegally allowed prostitution and solicitation on Shotwell Street and has failed to keep city streets safe.

Residents said they have complained for years with little or no response.

“It’s like a dog and pony show, with the city, with the prostitution, with the clients, with the pimps, with everyone, right?” said resident David Hall.

The city attorney’s office released a statement saying, “Once we receive the complaint, we will review the complaint and respond appropriately.”

Mayor London Breed and Supervisor Hillary Ronen’s office have announced a new plan to combat prostitution in the area. The plan includes installing barriers similar to those on Capp Street, installing cameras to deter sex workers, issuing letters to vehicle owners seeking sexual services, and stepping up enforcement by both uniformed and undercover police.

Residents are sceptical, however, as they have heard broken promises before.

“They can move around if they want, move around at night,” Hall said.

The San Francisco Police Department reports 72 arrests for various crimes in the area over the past four months.

There is currently no set schedule for the installation of barriers and cameras, nor a court date for the lawsuit.