Oakland Hotels Once Plagued By Prostitution To Get New Management
OAKLAND (KCBS) — Changes are underway at two Oakland sites once home to the hotels known for sex trafficking and child prostitution.
Oakland City Attorney Barbara Parker said the National Lodge and the Economy Inn were magnets for child prostitution. She said many of the underage victims—mostly girls— were foster-care children, some as young as 14-years-old.
About a year ago an Alameda County Superior Court judge ordered the one-year closure of two hotels—one on International Blvd. and the other on East 12th Street.
"These two hotels were hubs," Parker said. "This is where people went if they wanted to engage in prostitution. There was a John who for whatever reason was asked whether he knew where he would procure women and he said, 'this is the place'."
Oakland City Attorney Wants Fresh Start For 2 Hotels Known For Sex Trafficking
The National Lodge will be turned into a site for retail and office space, while The Economy Inn—the worst offender— will operate under a different name and the owners are barred from running any part of it.
There were numerous incidents of rape, kidnapping and violence at the Inn.
Parker said cleaning up this area represents a huge victory for the community.
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