2 weeks Ago By Ben J. Costas
San Diego County could soon see significant legislative action in the fight against child sex trafficking if Assembly Bill 379 is passed. Yesterday, a battalion of local leaders, including Chula Vista Mayor John McCann, gathered to voice their support for the bill, which is aimed squarely at bolstering protections for minors caught in trafficking networks. CBS 8 reported that Shane Harris, president of the People's Association of Justice Advocates, Susan Munsey, a survivor of human trafficking, and Carolyn Matzger, chief of the Sex Crimes and Human Trafficking Division at the County District Attorney's Office, were present to advocate for the proposed changes strongly.
Appealing to the San Diego County Board of Supervisors, Mayor McCann posted about his involvement and support of AB 379 on social media. "This morning, I had the honor of standing alongside local leaders and advocates in support of AB 379—a vital bill aimed at combating the devastating issue of child sex trafficking in San Diego County and across California," he stated. His post can be found on his Facebook page.
The bill is expected not only to hold traffickers more accountable but also to shift the legal perspective to treat trafficked children as victims rather than perpetrators.San Diego's status as a trafficking hotspot is underscored by numerous reports cited by regional law enforcement and nonprofit agencies, which estimate hundreds of children are trafficked within the city each year. AB 379 intends to include 16-year-olds and 17-year-olds within felony criminal statutes for child sex trafficking, recognizing the need to extend protections amidst a landscape where traffickers traditionally seek to exploit vulnerabilities.
In a corresponding move, Mayor McCann recently penned a letter urging the Board to take definitive action on AB 379. "I urge the Board to support AB 379—because protecting our children must always be a top priority," he mentioned, as obtained from his social media post. The decision to pass this bill could send a powerful signal that California is dedicated to eradicating the exploitation of its young and at-risk populations.
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