Seattle residents claim SOAP ordinance not being enforced along Aurora Avenue

Olympia, WALocal News

In Seattle, residents living near Aurora Avenue are expressing discontent over the perceived ineffectiveness of the "Stay Out of Area of Prostitution" (SOAP) ordinance, which was implemented by the Seattle City Council nearly six months ago. Many locals believe that the ordinance has not been enforced adequately, resulting in ongoing visibility of prostitution activities in their neighborhoods. The creators of IsJonAJohn. com, which documents license plates of suspected offenders, report a 30% decrease in local prostitution since their launch, but they stress that more needs to be done to combat the issue effectively. They highlight the urgent need for additional cameras and signage as the situation shifts to evade monitoring efforts.

The group has also criticized local law enforcement for a lack of action, despite assurances that they would be equipped to handle the problem. To further their mission, they plan to publicly identify frequent offenders and have initiated a GoFundMe campaign to raise funds for expanded surveillance. As frustration mounts in the community, residents are urging for more proactive measures to ensure safety for families in the area. This ongoing situation highlights the complexities of addressing prostitution and related crime in urban settings.

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