THE BUZZ: TRICKY POLITICS — Democrats in Sacramento banded together in 2021 to repeal a law designed to clamp down on street prostitution. Now that move is driving a wedge between moderates who want to revisit it and legislative leaders reluctant to open yet another divisive debate about crime in an election year. Half a dozen Democrats in the Assembly have tried twice this session to advance a bill that would reinstate the prior law, which banned loitering in public places with the “intent to commit prostitution.” They argue repealing it was a mistake that has led to an increase in street prostitution because police officers don’t have the same broad authority to arrest suspected sex workers. “It’s right in front of our faces, there’s nothing we can do,” Assemblymember Freddie Rodriguez, who’s led the push to reinstate the law, told Playbook. “Law enforcement is there, and their hands are tied.” But efforts to reinstate the law have hit a brick wall. Days before lawmakers left Sacramento for this month-long summer recess, Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas and Senate President pro Tem Mike McGuire effectively shelved Rodriguez’s proposal, according to a Capitol insider familiar with the bill. The speaker and pro tem declined to comment. The move reflects the broader fear among Sacramento leaders about further stoking emotionally-charged spats over crime policy before voters head to the ballot box. McGuire and Rivas have sought to prevent such legislation from dividing the Democratic caucus and leading to policy fights that could harm their party in November. That’s presented a tough balancing act considering they must please both progressive lawmakers, who want to preserve hard-fought criminal justice overhauls, and moderate members, who argue the pendulum of voter sentiment has fundamentally shifted on crime. State Sen. Scott Wiener, a Democrat from San Francisco, had championed repealing the original law, arguing it unfairly led officers to target transgender, Black and Latina women for wearing tight outfits or platform high heels since police could consider a person’s clothing, and other subjective factors, to determine if they were selling sex. Rodriguez, a moderate Democrat from east LA County, said Wiener’s move created problems in his district, especially in the suburb of Pomona, where he said sex workers are far more visible than before. He said it also made it harder for police to make contact with victims of sex trafficking. Among the assemblymembers who’ve backed Rodriguez’s proposal: Mike Gipson, Stephanie Nguyen, James Ramos, Blanca Rubio and Carlos Villapudua — all moderate Democrats from largely suburban districts. Wiener, a progressive by Sacramento standards, said he rejects the argument that prostitution has increased due to his measure, Senate Bill 357. He said police still “have plenty of tools” to arrest people for pimping or prostitution without profiling women walking down the street. “They don’t need to arrest people based on how they’re dressed, how they wear their makeup,” Wiener told Playbook. Rodriguez said he still hopes to revive his bill, and has met with Wiener to try to broker a compromise. Wiener meanwhile said he doesn’t see a need, arguing that SB 357 has been blamed for problems with prostitution that have existed for decades. “I understand the desire to find a scapegoat and to blame Sacramento,” Wiener said. “When it comes to public safety, there are swings in the politics.” GOOD MORNING. Happy Friday. Thanks for waking up with Playbook. You can text us at 916-562-0685 — save it as “CA Playbook” in your contacts. Or drop us a line at lkorte@politico.com and dgardiner@politico.com, or on X — @DustinGardiner and @Lara_Korte. WHERE’S GAVIN? Nothing official announced.
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