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REGULAR MEETING January 28, 2019
<br /> who wrote this (holding up a book) that I would recommend to everyone, The Polaris Project and
<br /> Shared Hope International.
<br /> Councilmember Jake Teshka continued, I continued my learning through reading and watching
<br /> various documentaries including I Am Jane Doe, Tricked, and In Plain Sight. I chatted with State
<br /> Legislators like former Representative Sally Siegrist,who has taken up the mantel in Indianapolis.
<br /> Even recently,I attended a roundtable hosted by US Representative Jackie Walorski in conjunction
<br /> with Uber, whose public policy team recognizes the potential for their platform to be used in
<br /> nefarious ways and they are looking to contribute to a solution. This journey has led me here in
<br /> presenting this resolution to you tonight in our last meeting in January, which is also Human
<br /> Trafficking Prevention month. While it is not a final destination, it is an important stop on my
<br /> personal fight against the scurs that is human trafficking. I urge you, my fellow Council Members
<br /> to pass this resolution for the nearly 27 million slaves throughout the world, for the one (1) in six
<br /> (6) runaway youths in the United States in danger of being trafficked, for the vulnerable youth in
<br /> our community, for our daughters, our sons, our grandchildren and for those little ones next door.
<br /> Finally, although it's not the case one hundred percent (100%) of the time, by and large, sex
<br /> trafficking victims are purchased by men. I would like this to be a call to my fellow men to learn
<br /> and fully understand and take up the mantel of this issue. We must learn about the devastating
<br /> impact that it has on the lives of individuals and our life together as a society. It is basic economics.
<br /> Where there is no demand,there will be no supply. While I'm confident that law enforcement will
<br /> do everything in their power to stop traffickers and pimps and rescue the victims, it is ultimately
<br /> up to us to put an end to this atrocity once and for all.
<br /> Council President Tim Scott opened the floor to questions and comments from Council Members.
<br /> Councilmember Regina Williams-Preston stated, Councilmember Teshka, I really appreciate you
<br /> bringing this to us today. I was not aware it was Human Trafficking Prevention Month. As you
<br /> said,it's not just important to know of but to know about.You've brought forth a lot of really good
<br /> information. Along with that information, you've really opened my heart to the issue with your
<br /> own personal experience and sharing your passion for it. That really came through and we
<br /> appreciate that. Thank you.
<br /> Councilmember Jo M. Broden stated, Thank you for bringing this forward today and also for the
<br /> timeliness of it. I remember several years ago when the Super Bowl was being hosted in
<br /> Indianapolis, there was just a huge flurry of activity and public awareness of this issue. It elevated
<br /> it as an issue, I think, across our State and there was actually national media coverage with some
<br /> cooperation that, here to for, hadn't been seen. Unfortunately, it all went quiet again. The book
<br /> you referenced,In Plain Sight, it really is. So, we need better eyes and heightened awareness, but
<br /> we need that sustained passion that you bring tonight and also the willingness to learn, know and
<br /> do more, too. I particularly appreciate the call to action, for all of us, that call to action you
<br /> specifically gave with regard to the demand side and for the resources you embedded into this
<br /> resolution tonight. I think all of those are tools that will be very helpful. Thank you very much for
<br /> your work on this and thanks for elevating it,particularly during this month. I appreciate it. Thank
<br /> you.
<br /> Councilmember Oliver Davis stated, Thank you so much, Councilmember Teshka, for leading us
<br /> in this discussion tonight. As a Social Worker, often times in my profession, I have a classmate at
<br /> USC and it is her area of expertise that she brings to us every week as we have our class discussions
<br /> regarding her passion. She's mentioned many of the stats that you have looked at. When you
<br /> consider the fact that ninety-three percent (93%) of victims are females and you see that so many
<br /> of them are twelve (12) to fourteen (14), that is a frightening thought. Being a father of two (2)
<br /> daughters, it's amazing to see how they could be targeted. Even working at the schools, I'm over
<br /> at Dickinson and Rise Up and I have a lot of classes and groups for the young ladies there and I
<br /> see how vulnerable so many of them are. When we look at that, it's a scary thing. And it's a scary
<br /> thing when you look at human trafficking at that stage that you talked about, but it's also a scary
<br /> thing when their parents are dating, and especially if it's a single parent like a single mom, when
<br /> single mom's boyfriends show up to the house and I have to deal with those kinds of matters all
<br /> the time. Single mom's boyfriend looks at daughter and wants to date daughter and she says ok
<br /> but then you can date me. That stuff gets on my everlasting nerves, but it is real. So, I appreciate
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