CITY LAUNCHES EFFORT TO HALT SLAVE TRADING LOCAL POLICE WILL BE TRAINED TO SPOT HUMAN TRAFFICKING.Byline: RICK ORLOV Staff Writer Calling it a modern-day abomination reflecting ``the dark side of paradise,'' federal, state and local officials Thursday kicked off a campaign to halt human trafficking. ``Today we are sending a message to human traffickers -- we see you, we know who you are and you will no longer set up shop in this city,'' Councilman Tony Cardenas Tony Cardenas served in the California State Assembly. In the Assembly, he had the powerful position of chair of the Budget Committee. He is now a Los Angeles City Councilman, representing the 6th district, which includes parts of the San Fernando Valley. said at a downtown news conference. Cardenas and others estimate as many as 50,000 people a year come through Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. as part of a modern-day ``slave trade'' from Mexico, Central and Latin America Latin America, the Spanish-speaking, Portuguese-speaking, and French-speaking countries (except Canada) of North America, South America, Central America, and the West Indies. , Asia and Eastern Europe Eastern Europe The countries of eastern Europe, especially those that were allied with the USSR in the Warsaw Pact, which was established in 1955 and dissolved in 1991. . Many are indentured and work menial MENIAL. This term is applied to servants who live under their master's roof Vide stat. 2 H. IV., c. 21. jobs to pay off the costs of coming to the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. . Many work in the agricultural industry, sweat shops and as prostitutes. Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca said the greater Los Angeles metropolitan area -- with 18 million people and the most diverse population in the country -- is a magnet for trafficking. ``This area has so much to offer, yet this continues to exist,'' Baca said. ``It is the dark side of paradise.'' Under the new campaign, police officers will be specially trained to identify the signs of human trafficking. Prosecutors also have pledged to prioritize the cases. A multimedia campaign will involve billboards and bumper stickers to raise public awareness. Kay Buck, executive director of the Coalition to Abolish Slavery and Trafficking, said Los Angeles' enforcement efforts have made it a model city for dealing with the issue. Officials with the FBI and the Immigration immigration, entrance of a person (an alien) into a new country for the purpose of establishing permanent residence. Motives for immigration, like those for migration generally, are often economic, although religious or political factors may be very important. and Custom Enforcement agency said more than 5,000 people have been arrested in recent years. ``We think if people recognize the signs of problems, they will report it to police,'' Cardenas said. ``We need the public's help on this.'' rick.orlov@dailynews.com (213) 978-0390 |
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