January 28, 2025
City Council
DATE: January 28, 2025
TO: Mayor Martinez and Members of the City Council
FROM:
Council Member Soheila Bana
Subject:
Presentation on Human Trafficking in Richmond and
Proclamation
FINANCIAL IMPACT: Funds to support the initiative may be requested at a later date.
PREVIOUS COUNCIL
ACTION:
Proclamation Recognizing National Human Trafficking
Prevention Month - January 18, 2024
STATEMENT OF THE
ISSUE:
Human trafficking remains a critical issue in Richmond, disproportionately affecting vulnerable populations and posing significant public safety concerns. Addressing this issue requires coordinated, community-driven solutions
involving law enforcement, service providers, and
community organizations.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
RECEIVE a presentation from the Family Justice Center,
the Contra Costa County Human Trafficking Task Force
Director, and the Richmond Police Department on the
current state of and collaborative efforts to combat
human trafficking in Richmond and PROCLAMATION
declaring January 2025 as Human Trafficking Prevention
Month in the City of Richmond - Councilmember Soheila
Bana (510-672-3490).
AGENDA
REPORT
January 28, 2025
DISCUSSION:
Human trafficking remains a critical issue in Richmond, disproportionately affecting vulnerable populations and posing significant public safety concerns. Addressing this issue requires coordinated, community -driven solutions involving law enforcement, service providers, and community organizations.
The Family Justice Center (FJC), in partnership with the Contra Costa County Human Trafficking Task Force and the Richmond Police Department, has been actively working to combat human trafficking through prevention, intervention, and community engagement.
In respon se to community -identified needs, the FJC has proposed Phase Two of the Community Safety and Cohesion Lighting Project, focusing on installing lighting and necessary infrastructure in areas most impacted by street-level commercial sex work and human trafficking. Additionally, an outreach campaign will be launched to connect victims with resources and raise community awareness.
The presentation will provide an overview of (Attachment 1):
Current trends and challenges related to human trafficking in Richmond. The collaborative efforts of the Family Justice Center, the Contra Costa County Human Trafficking Task Force, and the Richmond Police Department to combat trafficking.
The proposed Phase Two lighting project and outreach campaign aimed at enhancing community safety and preventing exploitation.
Funding for $10,000 to support these initiatives, may be requested later. Supporting this initiative will directly contribute to the safety and well -being of Richmond residents by addressing conditions that enable human trafficking.
The proclamation of January 2025 as Human Trafficking Prevention Month will reaffirm the City’s commitment to raising awareness and supporting anti -trafficking efforts (Attachment 2).
DOCUMENTS ATTACHED:
Attachment 1 – Presentation
Attachment 2 – Proclamation