In a strange twist of California politics, legislation to reinstate a law banning loitering with the intent to commit prostitution has hit an unexpected red light. 

This comes after Democrats repealed the original law in 2021, a move that some argue has led to an increase in street prostitution. Assemblymember Freddie Rodriguez spearheaded efforts to bring back the law, claiming that its repeal has tied law enforcement’s hands and increased the visibility of sex workers.

Despite these concerns, California’s legislative leaders, Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas and Senate President pro Tem Mike McGuire, have stalled Rodriguez’s proposal for fear of igniting divisive debates over crime policy in an election year. 

San Francisco State Senator Scott Wiener, who championed the original repeal, strongly opposes reinstating the law. He insists that the law would target marginalized groups and says the police have enough tools to combat prostitution, even though law enforcement wants to have the current law repealed. 

This legislation highlights the inner divisions within the Democratic Party over how to handle crime and public safety.