Prostitutes in Charles Village
I spent some time Monday night with members of the Old Goucher Community Association, who are fed up with transgender prostitutes that proliferate Calvert and St. Paul streets between East 20 and 25 streets.
The met with Northern District Police Officer Douglas C. Gibson Jr. who explained the difficulties of cleaning the area up, and ones I'll explore in a column this week. One woman, a public health nurse who moved here from Portland, wrote an e-mail saying she was tired of finding used condoms out back and "of being picked up on when ever I go out and sit on the steps on St. Paul -- the first time a guy asked me if I was working I didn't even know what he was asking -- I said -- 'Yeah, I work, I'm a nurse.'"
Residents asked the officer if the city could establish a Prostitution Free Zone, as allowed for under the city charter. But Gibson said those laws, good-intentioned as they may have been when formed, don't work that well. As with Drug-Free Zones, police can't simply sweep the area of loiterers; they have to prove the people were loitering for the purpose of selling drugs or engaging in prostitution. And if they can prove that, then they can charge with with the underlying offenses.
I walked the streets with a community association member for a bit last night and two prostitutes passed my car as soon as I parked on East 21st Street. I saw several, including one man wearing a thong and little else standing on a corner next to Lovely Lane United Methodist Church (where hours later the community meeting had been held).
None of the women "working" were loud or obnoxious, though several were talking on their cell phones. I saw no pickups, but I was only out for about 20 minutes. Residents describe loud arguments, shouting and a coordinated effort by the workers to vaporize as soon as a police car drives by. One police commander told me the area is noted on Craigslist as the place to come for a male prostitute dressed as a woman.
Other neighborhoods have tried various ways eradicate the problem -- Curitis Bay and Brooklyn want police to send letters to men who circle blocks looking for women to scare them away; Gibson said the Northern District major and deputy major hit the streets recently and stopped four cars, but one driver was single ("a letter wouldn't do much good") and two others were from out of state and in rental cars, so the letter would go to the car company, not their homes.
In Pigtown, residents hit the streets armed with video cameras and photograph women and men, and their license plates, and post the information on the Internet. But I just noticed today that Baltimore John Watch has been removed, so that might not even be up and running anymore.
Residents also demanded that officers who respond to their calls get out of their cars instead of just driving by; Gibson said it's hard to move people who are just standing around, as they aren't breaking any laws. To get a good arrest takes a sting operation in which cops pose as johns and get the workers to admit they are exchanging sex for money. It's takes a lot of work and time, and even then the workers escape with probation.
Here are some e-mails from concerned residents:
My husband and I have also noticed the recent order-of-magnitude increase in the activities in and around the vicinity of East 21st Street and its intersections with both North Charles and Saint Paul Streets. The actions of these people are quite simply, astonishingly brazen and intolerably disruptive to the peace and quiet, and no less important, the feeling of our safety in our neighborhood. Like you, we have called 911 numerous times to no apparent effect, and like you, have come to suspect that the "lookout" for the group must be monitoring some sort of police scanner, as they all seem to scatter or pile into a vehicle and depart the scene just before the police arrive, IF they arrive at all.
Too many times we have had to make repeat calls three and sometimes as many as four times before a squad car ever drives by; and that's EXACTLY what they do: drive by. Even if (some of) the scantily and provocatively clad people are still there, we have NEVER seen an officer stop the car and get out and say anything to them. A perfunctory drive-by without some sort of challenge is a completely toothless and useless threat, and they know it.
As soon as it can be arranged, we plan to have a special called community meeting with representatives of the Police Department, Mayor's Office, surrounding community associations and as many members of the media as we can interest in the situation, to try and bring some sort of effective action to bear. The alternative, as you so correctly point out, is to protest with our feet and our tax dollars. I know the next time our property is assessed, we will be appealing the assessment on the basis of living in an area where known prostitution activity takes place on a daily/nightly basis. Lower assessments mean less money for the City. It's pretty much a no-brainer. We are all living in the city, perhaps for different reasons, but none of them include daily confrontation with, intimidation by, and lifestyle disturbances from prostitutes of indeterminate gender that is now our continuous lot.
Among other possible remedies, we intend to ask for two immediate measures to help combat this blight. First, we need a set of the generator powered emergency work lights to be stationed in the middle of the unit block of East 21st Street, directed both East and West to cover the primary areas where this activity is occurring. This will help in at least two ways: It should discourage the overt soliciting behavior in the vicinity and it will almost certainly discourage the potential customers from stopping to initiate transactions. These lights have been effective in various areas of the city where unruly activities are a problem.
Secondly, we intend to respectively insist that the Police Commissioner invoke Police Ordinance 19, Subtitle 27, Paragraphs 27-1 through 27-16 to establish a maximum permissible sized "Prostitution Free Zone" in and around this area of the Old Goucher neighborhood. The Ordinance implies, and we will expect enhanced Police enforcement of the City's existing anti-prostitution ordinances within this area for the maximum permissible time.
In the meantime, it will fall to everyone in the community who feels affected by this problem and wants to see it change, to begin collecting and recording incidents and anecdotes that they observe, including dates, times and locations. These data will be absolutely essential in convincing the Police Commissioner of a) the unarguable need for the Prostitution Free Zone and b) the area of coverage that it must encompass.
The days are gone when even supervisors in the Police Department can boast publically, apparently with great satisfaction, that they have been able to drive the prostritutes northward across North Avenue from the Mount Vernon community into Charles Village and Old Goucher. "We're as mad as Hell, and we're not going to take it anymore."
And from the nurse:
I realize it's been quite a while since I've written- the problem however for the prostitution at 21st and Saint Paul Streets continues to escalate. When I leave my house, I find several "ladies" in the street, often standing right in front of my car.
This morning, as I was leaving for work, one such was standing a foot or two in front of my car and antagonistically watched me as I entered same and as I attempted to leave, just stood in front of the car. I had to press forward slowly and she finally let me pass. This is unacceptable! I should not have to deal with this on a daily basis, which I have been for quite some time now, as I am sure you continue to be aware.
While I recognize that it is difficult to catch these persons in the act, an it is not illegal to stand on a corner, to talk to someone in an automobile etc, I should not feel intimidated when I leave, have to force my way through them just to go to work. It is even more frustrating when I note that while my property taxes have increase 400%, we can't eliminate this scourge from our neighborhood. I know of at least two families who have already moved or are contemplating moving just on the 2100 block of Saint Paul because of the either real or perceived dangerous nature of our neighborhood.
What can be done? Or will I need to be one of those abandoning the neighborhood?
Categories: Confronting crime, Neighborhoods
Comments
This probably isn't news to you, but another huge prostitution corridor is E. Baltimore St. on Patterson Park. I used to live there and every night they'd be strolling by.
Posted by: Groundskeeper | May 19, 2009 8:36 AM
While I'm aware of the blatant prostitution within this corridor, why do residents snarkily drag gender into their arguments?
"indeterminate gender"
"ladies"
Do cisgendered prostitutes have a corner on the market?
I drive through the area every night on my way home to Waverly and another epicenter is 25th and Calvert, not just 21st and St. Paul.
Posted by: Anonymous | May 19, 2009 10:07 AM
Legalize prostitution-- then you can control it with zoning ordinances. I'd rather relegate it to the block or another “undesirable” location away from up-and-coming neighborhoods.
It would be naïve to think the city could restrict this activity any other way…
Posted by: thestate | May 19, 2009 11:45 AM
It's on Craigslist so the police are off the hook?
Posted by: Greg | May 19, 2009 11:49 AM
This issue cries out for a new approach to justice and to do that Baltimore needs stronger Community Courts (also known as Problem Solving Courts).
If there was a specific court designed to deal with prostitution then the police would be more inclined to do the stings to arrest them because we would be assured that the defendants would be getting something more substantial than probation (which is often given because we simply dont have the jail space for prostitutes). But by substantial I don't mean jail time - I mean community service, job training, sexual education, therapy, and other social services to help get them off the street. Judges mandate treatment and call the defendant in on multiple occasions to check on his or her status. And if the defendant does not complete such court mandated treatment then the judge should throw the book at them. Such a court would have a specifically assigned judge and prosecutor to work with the defendant to ensure each gets the proper treatment (but also punishment) such as fits the crime.
This is a systemic problem that needs to be dealt with in a different way then the standard assembly line justice that sometimes happens in the courtroom.
Posted by: Chris Madaio | May 19, 2009 11:58 AM
Chris, they are law-breakers.
I'm not interested in giving them training, counseling, or any other support services.
Read them the law and then toss them into jail if they choose to violate it.
Posted by: galt | May 19, 2009 3:49 PM
Peter, I would love for you to find out what happened to Baltimore John Watch. I believe those individuals made a positive impact on the neighborhood by shining a bright light on the customers and the prostitutes. The area around Charles Carroll Elementary School was much better for their efforts. I'm sorry to find that the blog has disappeared.
Posted by: Avalon | May 24, 2009 6:49 AM
As a three year resident of the 22nd block of Saint Paul, I must confess that I actually like the prostitutes, and would be sad to see them go. These people actually keep the block relatively safe compared to areas just blocks away. When these people are out, they are uninterested in having petty, and sometimes violent muggers in their territory. I am 100% more comfortable approaching my house at 2am when i know there are other people out on my block.
As a small digression, I am offended that the article even mentions that these people happen to be transgender, which only about half of them are. I know, I talk to them. It's an unnecessary and divisive statement, and only works to polarize the discussion even more. I'm glad another poster mentions this as well.
Posted by: Noah B | May 24, 2009 12:50 PM
I am a female who lives in the area and do not feel unsafe when I see prostitutes on my block at night or early in the morning. Nor have any of them ever bothered me in any way or been antagonistic. I'm surprised by the lack of sympathy if many of these comments. Prostitutes are victims. Using the police is a temporary solution and would only force them into a "less desirable" neighborhood. The prostitutes have been here before all these "newcomers" have moved in and started complaining. Deal with it or go move somewhere else.
Posted by: Anna | May 25, 2009 1:52 AM
I have one question for both of the officers you quote in your piece on the prostitution problem in Charles Village, would they be so cavalier about the residents' complaints if it was a member of their family who was forced to deal with this mess and was propositioned by some low life. I lived in Charles Village during the gas crisis in the 70's and like many of my neighbors I had gas siphoned from my car. The officer who responded to take the report very professionally told my wife, "That is what you get for living in the city"- real nice community relations touch, don't you think?
Things apparently haven't changed in the past 30 plus years.
Both the officer and the Deputy Major both basically said to the residents, tough, suck it up, there is nothing the criminal justice system can do for you tax paying residents of Charm City, and by the way the prostitutes have rights, and in fact, according to one officer, the poor prostitutes are the real victims here what with all the work related problems they have while plying their trade. I am sure the folks were all teary eyed over that comment. What does that have to do with making these residents feel safe in their neighborhood? Maybe the residents and the transvestite prostitutes can get into a big "Texas" hug and sing "Kumbaya. Wouldn't that be nice?
Here is a wild leap of imagination; the same situation exists in the Mayor's or Police Commissioner's neighborhood, would District officers sing the same song? I especially like the Deputy Major's observation that "it's been like that for a hundred years"- nothing like a little historical perspective on the problem, which I am sure his audience found odd since male prostitution has been in vogue prior to 1909. I will go out on a limb and predict that there wouldn't be the sociological and historical clap trap mouthed by the Northern District officers if this situation was in someone’s neighborhood who could really make the phones ring in the Northern District, or downtown at Police Headquarters.
I advise those Charles Village residents to camp outside the Northern District Commander's door and see if he likes to have unwanted guests in his "neighborhood."
Posted by: jim | May 27, 2009 2:36 PM