Mayor’s Task Force on Human Trafficking
Illicit Massage Parlor Subcommittee Meeting Minutes
Friday, June 20, 201412:30 pm – 2:00 pm
25 Van Ness Avenue, Room 330A, San Francisco, CA
Attendees:
Minouche Kandel, Director of Women’s Policy, Department on the Status of Women
Amanda Berger, Coordinator SPOC, SF Demand Collaborative
Beverly May, Director of Government Affairs, California Massage Therapy Council
Valerie Lopez, Legal Intern CAO, Health Team, SF City Attorney’s Office
Christina Wa, Legal Intern, CAO, Health Team, SF City Attorney’s Office
Cyndy Comerford, Manager of Planning and Policy, SF Department of Public Health
Dyanna Quizon, Legal Aide, Supervisor Katy Tang
Julius DeGuia, Managing Attorney, SF District Attorney Office
Partima Gupta, Medical Director, St James Infirmary
Ed Walsh, Sr. Environmental Health Inspector, SF Department of Public Health—Environmental Health
Kristen D’Angelo, former sex worker
Ellyn Bell, Executive Director, Sage
- Welcome & Introductions & Agenda Review
The meeting was called to order at 12:32 pm by Minouche Kandel. Attendees introduced themselves. The agenda was approved.
- Enforcing SB 1193 (Trafficking Notice) Update
- Report on April 5 Day of Action
Kandel introduced SB 1193, a bill that requires designated businesses to display an anti-human trafficking poster. On March 6, 2014, the poster was sent to 687 San Francisco businesses with an explanation of its purpose and consequences for non-compliance. She reported on the April 5, 2014 city wide check of bars, hospitals, and adult establishments for the presence of the poster. Kandel reported issues with the time frame of the check, which took place in the afternoon when many of the businesses were closed. Many of the businesses also reported that they had not received the copy of the poster sent in March. Only 10% of businesses had the poster up at the time of check.
- Update from Department of Public Health on Enforcement
Ed Walsh reported that the Department of Public Health (DPH) is issuing citations for public hearings to massage parlors for non-compliance with SB 1193. Kandel inquired whether DPH must first issue a note with direction to correct before issuing a citation. Kandel stated that a business may be fined 30 days after a statute to correct has been issued. Walsh stated that the posters should have already been posted. Kandel mentioned that the posters sent out in March were informational and did not include a warning.
Cyndy Comerford reported that inspectors experience difficulty checking for the presence of SB 1193. Walsh suggested adding “human trafficking poster” to the inspection checklist as a reminder to inspectors to look for the poster. Kandel inquired if this entry is on the checklist for bar inspections. Walsh mentioned that new inspection checklists are not made, and thus cannot be edited, before the current supply is exhausted.
Kristen DiAngelo inquired what the desired results of SB 1193 are. Kandel stated that the legislation is state law and is intended to have the dual purpose of informing both the general public and victims of trafficking about trafficking and resources for victims. She reported that it is too early to know whether the desired effect has been reached because many businesses have not heard about it yet. Kandel acknowledges that the language on the poster is not particularly survivor friendly. D’Angelo stated that many trafficking victims will believe the trafficking hotline on the poster to be similar to calling 911, and will regard it as unhelpful. Kandel states that the poster isn’t perfect, and that this subject will be further addressed later in the agenda.
Ellyn Bell suggested the use of small cards and stickers as an effective supplement to SB 1193. Kandel asked to save this for later in the meeting. Kandel inquires whether it is possible to add a checkbox to the inspection sheet for bars covered by the SF 48 statute (those that do not serve food). Comferford stated that she would bring up the topic at the next meeting to determine if it is feasible.
Comerford reported on the final stages of working with the state assembly on amending AB 47, a bill that would allow a law enforcement agency to issue a yellow alert if a person has been seriously injured or killed due to a hit-and-run incident and they have information concerning the suspect or their vehicle. Comerford reported working to amend the regulations of the bill, specifically to return all enforcement back to local agencies concerning permitting licensing and land use control. Comerford states that the bill will ideally go to vote in August, and in the event of its passing, DPH will alter local legislation to revert the changes made last year regarding KPAC restrictions.
- Update on State Massage Parlor Legislation
- Informing Cards/Materials to Distribute
Kandel stated that reports received by Inspector Florez indicate that few women feel safe coming forward to acknowledge that they were sex trafficked as a result of massage parlor inspections. She added that it is likely victims may never go forward to the police, but it is possible to determine whether there is another method of material distribution that would be more effective.
DiAngelo expressed that SB 1193, and other distributions of printed materials, may not be cost effective methods of increasing human trafficking reports. She cited that the police have historically arrested sex workers, so asking sex workers to trust police is unrealistic. DiAngelo also stated that it is unrealistic to expect citizens who witness trafficking to take action, as customers who become aware of it avoid involvement. She reported on instances of a trafficker forcing a worker to post images of other trafficked women online, which resulted in the worker being convicted as a trafficker.
Kandel inquired what measures would be effective in changing the perception of law enforcement as being unable to help victims of trafficking. DiAngelo suggested that police demonstrate their strength when they enter a facility to convey that they are stronger than the trafficker. She suggested doing so through a large display of strength, and to make it clear to every worker in the building that help and safety will be provided for them and their relatives if they choose to report trafficking.
Valerie Lopez stated that the reason the industry exists is that there is a demand for it. Kandel stated that this is next on the agenda.
Kandel reported that T Visas, which are temporary visas issued to victims of human trafficking and immediate family members that allow them to remain in the United States if they testify against their perpetrator, are available to women being trafficked. Kandel inquired whether dispersing more information regarding T Visa eligibility would allow more victims to come forward. DiAngelo answered that she believes if trafficking victims knew they would not be deported, they would report trafficking more readily.
DiAngelo stated that the most effective way to communicate with workers in the sex industry is through word of mouth. She also emphasized that the SB 1193 poster is inefficient for victims of trafficking, because it doesn’t say they have rights or are valuable human beings.
Amanda Berger asked what the level of communication and coordination between community groups, law enforcement, and DPH is in San Francisco. DiAngelo replied that she will not report a victim of trafficking to law enforcement. Pratima Gupta stated that women such as DiAngelo are needed to act as a communicator between the sex worker community, DPH, and law enforcement.
Ellyn Bell reported that her organization receives few referrals from law enforcement. She emphasized the necessity to protect victims of trafficking from retaliation if they report a trafficker.
Dyanna Quizon mentioned the necessity of publicizing T Visas and ensuring that victims gain access to organizations like Sage. Kandel inquired to DiAngelo whether it would be useful to distribute flyers from the police or DPH with information on how to get help. DiAngelo replied that this method of communication will not be effective, due to the sex work community’s negative impression of law enforcement. She stated that instead, spreading information that victims have a right to control over their own lives and do not have to do anything they don’t want to. Bell stated that her materials are more user-friendly and feature a cartoon character. They list victims’ rights in four languages.
DiAngelo suggested that written materials are not cost effective, especially because the sex work community mainly communicates online. For instance, workers notify others about predators in the area on verification sites. DiAngelo stated that many workers in massage parlors work there of their own volition. She said that there is a small window of opportunity when trafficked women look for assistance, and that if the system of helping them is not efficient they will stop seeking help. Gupta reported that current work does not include advocacy, only street based outreach and testing.
Kandel proposed the group break into smaller work groups to expand and experiment with the effectiveness of the work that they are doing to inform people. DiAngelo mentioned that she knows many of the people who run the online sites that sex workers use. Gupta proposed using these “boards” to advertise materials informing trafficking victims of their rights. She suggested monitoring the amount of clicks the materials received to measure their effectiveness. Quizon suggested also using social media websites to advertise. She mentioned they may be eager to advertise for free, because they often look for ways to support the city.
DeGuia inquired whether there are advocates who enter massage parlors. Kandel stated that they are unaware of any San Francisco advocates going out. DeGuia stated that advocates do not enter with police, which prevents a connection between law enforcement with advocates.
- Addressing Coercive Buyers/Traffickers
Berger reported on the Hunt Alternative fund, which is subsidized by Swanee Hunt, a former US Ambassador to Austria. The fund is interested in eliminating issues around the commercial sex industry and sex trafficking. Their national initiative, Demand Abolition, oversees the Pilot Cities Project, which looks at innovative strategies for targeting the commercial sex industry, sex trafficking, and buyers. Chicago, Denver, Boston, and San Francisco are participants in Pilot Cities. In San Francisco, the project consists of Sage, SF Attorney’s Office, SFPD, and the Department. The San Francisco project has four strategies (and a tentative fifth): utilizing law enforcement to focus on buyers looking to purchase sex from minors, expanding and adding to Sage’s sex diversion program, promoting prevention education in public schools, and increasing public education, awareness, and communication. Berger mentioned that Michael Wagner will be coming in as a consultant in the fall. He is interested in initially targeting buyers in specific areas.
Berger addressed that that the Hunt fund has acknowledged San Francisco’s unique issues and approaches to the commercial sex industry and sex trafficking industry. The Hunt fund allotted San Francisco the freedom to use the grant in a way that is most effective for the city’s specific needs. Despite this, the grant is focused on prevention measures instead of support services for those who leave the sex industry.
Comerford inquired whether the goal of the grant is to prosecute and expose criminals or to enhance public awareness. Berger replied that the goal is target violent coercive buyers.
Berger stated that the project’s title maj change from “Demand Abolition” to “Demand Pilot Cities”. DeGuia asked how sex workers share information about rapists. DiAngelo stated that there have been 238 rapes of sex workers in the Bay Area this year. She cited a case in which a man had raped at least 25 women until he was caught. DiAngelo said that he was only prosecuted for one, and got off on a technicality. DeGuia inquired as to what the best way to engage with the sex worker community is to encourage them to testify against rapists. DiAngelo replied that ensuring confidentiality and that you are not there to hurt them is necessary. Kandel mentioned that the District Attorney is discussing trying to implement a proposal that would prevent a witness of a crime regarding illegal sex activity from prosecution.
DeGuia reported that safety must be at the forefront of combatting commercial sex work and trafficking. He said this is the primary issue regarding sex work, not the sex work itself. He added that they introduced employees of the Hunt foundation to a new way of thinking. They left encouraging the city to innovate in a method utilitarian for us.
DiAngelo encouraged avoiding using the Hunt name, because there are religious connotations to the fund’s funding.
- Next Steps
- Next meeting date, time, location
The group set a meeting date for XXXXXXXXXXXXXX
The meeting was adjourned at 1:58 pm.
- Agenda for next meeting
1 |San Francisco Department on the Status of Women