We all share the passion for travel and for that reason I leave politics off this website, but I can’t help to point out what happens when poor decisions by lawmakers make crime possible. Thanks to laws enacted in 2022 in California, it’s “nearly impossible” to charge crimes against sex workers and women of the night in Los Angles red light district, many of them scantily clad in thongs and high heels, according to the New York Post.
The exact location of this debauchery is a 40 block zone of Figueroa Boulevard in South Los Angeles. Reports gathered cite that some of the women are barely out of their teens as they strut down the street prostituting themselves for money thanks to the “Safer Streets for All Act,” passed by Gavin Newsome, Governor of California, which decriminalizes any loitering that is meant to be done in order to offer their sexual services in exchange for money.
Figueroa Boulevard Prostitution Complaints
The aforementioned New York Post story cited many examples of people’s remarks about the Los Angeles prostitution, and I’ve listed the most concerning ones on the image below.
Pretty wild to imagine all of this happening in front of families and in broad daylight. Sad, actually.
According to the Los Angeles Police Department, sources have informed them that the prostitution costs in Los Angeles red light district range from $40 for “sex acts” and many are selling sex for less than $160. There are sex workers who have even bragged about making up to $1,000 in a single night thanks to having a list of regular clientele who often take them on exotic trips.
In terms of the aforementioned loitering rules, any law enforcement officer doesn’t have the permission to halt the women and offer then assistance unless they don’t appear to be an adult.
If they do come across minors, they are brought into the police station and then turned over to the Department of Children and Family Services. However, in a lot of cases, even the girls that move to a shelter program show up working the streets only days later.
A large number of the women are recruited from a young age and brought to Los Angeles from other states so there will be less of a chance of their families getting them out of the trade of prostitution. The Post also reported that 95% or more of the women do have pimps with gang ties, making it very challenging for the women to run away.
The New York Post Visits the Los Angeles Red Light District
The Post “took a ride down” an area called “The Track” on Figueroa, which they remind us, is gang territory controlled by Bloods and Crips sets. When they took the 6 p.m. ride on a Tuesday they witnessed girls with G-Strings that left little to the imagination who were waving at people passing by in vehicles.
When they arrived at the intersection of Figueroa and 96th to 98th streets the traffic was pushed back into a residential areas because “johns in their cars” were pulling up to the women to talk to them and see if they wanted to make a deal.
One of my favorite observations made by the Post includes this gem of a setting around a residential neighborhood. Here’s a recap of some of their experiences as well as a photo:
Police cars sped past, but the women didn’t bother to scatter as the johns pulled into the neighborhood and parked.
A young blonde woman in a hot pink bikini and a white faux fur bolero struck a seductive pose, smiling at the passing men while teetering on six-inch acrylic stilettos.
Her smile quickly faded into irritation as car after car drove away without stopping.
Nearby, a taco truck served hungry customers, who couldn’t help but get an unexpected show as women in revealing bathing suits strolled by, adding an unusual backdrop to their meal.
But wait, there’s even more to the story!
Before the turn of 9 o’clock p.m. the traffic was such mayhem that the women would walk directly to the row of waiting johns looking for pleasure. Just two blocks from the above corner, a man who was naked from the waist down was seen haggling with more than one prostitute. One of the women asked “why is your dick out?” while her friend removed her from his presence.
Shortly after, the Post remarked that their reporter and photographer deemed it unsafe to remain in this bad neighborhood in Los Angeles and call it a night.
Los Angeles Red Light District & Prostitution Summary
While the red light district in Los Angeles may not be as defined and typical as to other red light districts, it’s clear that Figueroa Boulevard is the epicenter of prostitution in Los Angeles.
If you plan on traveling here, make sure to avoid that area or be forewarned as to what’s going on. Same goes for the dangers in nearby Compton, which has had a long run of being at the center of gang violence and other street crimes.
About Peter C.
Peter is a digital nomad who largely writes from Asia, Europe, and South America. Always following the "vibe," he sets up shop in hostels and AirBNB's and continues to entertain us with wild stories from life abroad. Ask him anything in our community forum. Make sure to download the AllWorld Travel Hacks FREE ebook.
