Prostitution crackdown on West side does little to solve ongoing problem, neighbors say

An age-old problem in a West side neighborhood, prostitution, recently has been getting some new attention from San Antonio police.

However, people living in the area say it is only a start in what needs to be an ongoing effort.

“It’s still the same. People are still walking up and down,” said one homeowner who wanted to hide her identity. “They need to do another round and they’ll pick up so many.”

The crackdown was conducted by SAPD’s human exploitation unit in the middle of the afternoon November 1.

Using undercover officers posing as prostitutes, they arrested four men ranging in age from 31 to 75 years old.

The arrests were made within a two-block area that encompassed South San Fernando, South Rosillo, Torreon and El Paso streets.

It’s the same area where the homeowner says she often sees lots of this kind of activity, everywhere from street corners to bus stops to vacant buildings.

“You see the girls going up and down. You turn right here, get some coffee, and you see them right here, trying to flag you,” she said.

The neighbor says what worries her most is that it all plays out within view of children.

DeZavala Elementary School is just a few blocks from the streets where the arrests were made.

“Kids see that,” the neighbor said. “My grandkids, they come on the weekend and I’m afraid to let them come out.”

KSAT asked SAPD what, specifically, prompted the crackdown in the area at this time.

According to neighbors, prostitution has been a continuous problem there.

In an email, SAPD replied that prostitution occurs all over the city of San Antonio, not one specific area.

“To protect the integrity of ongoing and future investigations, we cannot disclose trends surrounding criminal activity,” the statement read.

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