HomeMy WebLinkAboutSubmittal-Commissioner Vince Lago-Statement by City of Coral Gables Commissionerl
Submitted into the publi
record f r item s) Vr
on ` City Clerk
Partnership between City of Coral Gables and City of Miami
I believe that as a public official, our number one priority is public safety. With this
being said, I went undercover four times with the City of Miami, and got to witness
firsthand what is occurring right here in our community. What I saw during these ride-
alongs is why I stand here today urging the City of Miami to work with us to help make our
communities safer.
On December 6, 2016, the City of Coral Gables enacted an ordinance, in which I
sponsored, that would prohibit hourly hotel/motel rentals.
It is well established that hotels/motels that allow for the hourly rental of rooms are
frequented by individuals engaged in prostitution and/or human sex trafficking as well as
other illegal activities. The US Department of State estimates that as many as 600,000-
800,000 individuals are trafficked across our nation's borders every year with Florida
receiving a high percentage of those victims. South Florida has experience such an
epidemic of sex trafficking that the Miami -Dade State Attorney's office establish a Human
Trafficking Unit in 2012. Victims of sex trafficking and prostitution are often exposed to
serious health risks, including sexually transmitted diseases, drug and alcohol addictions, a
series of health concerns and psychological trauma.
Submitted into the public
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Oft ordinance
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aims to eliminate illegal activities surrounding our City's borders while enhancing the
overall safety of our neighborhoods for the future of our children. This legislation will lead
to the creation of a Joint Enforcement Zone of a Multi -Agency Anti -Prostitution and Human
Trafficking Task Force ("MAAPTF") intended to disrupt criminal activity through joint
proactive law enforcement operations in order to investigate, apprehend, and successfully
prosecute offenders engaging in such activity within the Joint Enforcement Zone.
It is the responsibility of government to ensure the public safety of its citizens by
providing policies and legislation for the betterment of our communities. As such, it is
mutually beneficial for the City of Coral Gables and the City of Miami to help combat this
issue jointly.
It is key pieces of legislation such as this one which allow communities to work
together to positively impact the life of residents. It is these kinds of partnerships that are
most effective and I have the utmost of faith will yield desirable results.