To: Ceasar C. Mitchell, President, Atlanta City Council

Atlanta City Council: No Banishment of Prostitutes!

The Atlanta City Council is considering an amendment to Ordinance 13-0-0025, “Solicitation for an Illicit Sexual Act,” that would target prostitutes for banishment for a second offense from city limits.

We ask the Atlanta City Council President Ceasar Mitchell and Public Safety and Legal Administration Committee Chair, Councilman Michael J. Bond, NOT to approve this ordinance and focus on actual solutions that address the underlying causes behind prostitution such as sexual victimization, substance abuse, mental illness and financial desperation. We simply cannot arrest our way out of this problem or use an uneven approach that doesn't address the demand created by those who seek such services.

Why is this important?

"The Atlanta Police Department has asked City Council to enact legislation to amend an ordinance that would mandate banishment of individuals convicted of prostitution from designated “Areas of Prostitution,” increase the mandatory minimum sentence for a first offense from 15 days to 180 days and upholds steep and unreasonable fees for those convicted.

Atlanta is known as the city too busy to hate; we should not be also known as the city who banishes citizens, especially the community's most vulnerable members. As a city, we should focus efforts and resources on real solutions that address the underlying causes behind prostitution such as sexual victimization, substance abuse, mental illness and financial desperation. Other cities have developed programs which combine curbing demand with the services and programs which allow for sex workers to leave the streets for good and find legitimate employment. We urge the City of Atlanta to investigate these successful models, and reject the ill-conceived Banishment Ordinance.