Seattle Councilmember Cathy Moore leads amendments to address commercial sexual exploitation

In an effort to refine Seattle’s approach to commercial sexual exploitation, Councilmember Cathy Moore, who represents District 5, will make changes to her proposed legislation in response to feedback from constituents and concerns raised by advocacy groups, according to the Seattle City Council’s official website. Moore’s amendments, unveiled Friday, would revise provisions that previously affected both buyers and sellers of sex, focusing primarily on the buyers and promoters while increasing efforts to connect individuals with services rather than filing charges.

The core of these amendments emerged from rounds of discussions and stakeholder input. The legislation now proposes to exclude vendors from the potential recipients of Stay Out of Area Prostitution (SOAP) orders and includes mandatory training for officers, developed in consultation with survivor groups, reflecting a significant shift towards decriminalization and support for those being exploited. Despite these adjustments, the proposed SOAP orders have raised eyebrows as they could ban individuals from certain areas, raising some potential red flags for civil liberties. “It is critical that we work together to make my proposed legislation on commercial sexual exploitation as effective as possible,” Councillor Moore said in a recent statement to the council.

The initial CSE legislation was prompted by dissatisfaction and concern among residents of the Aurora Avenue North neighborhoods. There has been a sharp increase in visible commercial sexual exploitation and a growing atmosphere of violence, including reports of shootings. Aurora neighborhoods have been struggling with the consequences of these illegal activities for some time.

With an extended public hearing scheduled for August 13 and another scheduled for September 10, the legislative process remains dynamic. Moore’s amendments are evidence of this evolving dialogue. They are amendments that signal adaptive governance, one that is willing to reshape its tools to address the complexity of an issue that continues to challenge the city. If the legislation passes committee, it will go to the full council for a vote on September 17, continuing the journey of this essential legislation that seeks to balance enforcement with humanity, reflecting Seattle’s collective ethos.