Allison Temples and Nelly Jarrous opened the meeting by welcoming all attendees and thanking them for coming. She asked attendees to stand up and introduce themselves.
She then introduced our legislative analyst, Penny Harrington, who referred us to a one page summary of 4 bills in the State Legislature (see attached)* and updated us on the history and status AB 379 which establishes a fund for community-based organizations supporting victims of sex trafficking, makes it a misdemeanor to loiter with the intent to purchase sex ($1000 fine to fund the support portion), and ensures that the crime of purchasing a minor for sex applies in any case where the victim is under 18. She urged attendees to contact their representatives to ask them to support the bill.
Allison then introduced our guest speaker, Marjorie Saylor, Care Coordinator at One Safe Place in San Marcos. Marjorie (herself a survivor of trafficking) talked about the need to crack down on the buyers. She said there is now growing support for the push to finally address the demand side of sex trafficking. She pointed out that research has shown that decriminalizing sex buying just results in demand going up, and the buyers are primarily white men with disposable income, while the victims are primarily poor, black and brown and LGBT.
Marjorie talked about her job at One Safe Place in San Marcos, which provides no cost support services all under one roof to anyone who has experienced child abuse, sexual assault, domestic violence, hate crime, elder abuse, human trafficking, violent loss, family violence, or other abuse or victimization.
After a question and answer period, the meeting adjourned at 1 pm
Next meeting is October 9 (Guest Speaker will be Rebecca Womelsdorf, Atty, San Diego Volunteer Lawyer Program)