ATLANTA — Neighbors say prostitutes are working on their street – even at their children's school bus stop.
Community organizers say they have dealt with the problem for a decade along Piedmont Road near Ponce de Leon Avenue in midtown Atlanta.
One resident started recording videos of what he saw and posting them online in the hopes of getting the city to pay attention and take action.
Residents say they live in a quiet midtown neighborhood, but that changes at night.
"It starts around 10 o'clock at night and goes until about 7 in the morning," Bill Nickles of the Midtown-Ponce Security Alliance said.
The neighbor who shot the videos says they show prostitutes walking the streets near his home, including next to a bus stop.
"Sometimes these prostitutes are out on the street and they behave in a threatening manner if challenged in any way and it's intimidating to people," Nickles said.
Neighbors say their constant complaints go unanswered and elected leaders ignore the problem. They want to see steady enforcement and tougher state prostitution laws.
Despite complaints from the transgender community, neighbors insist their issues are about criminal activity, not sexual orientation.
"It's about prostitutes being on the street corner at 7 in the morning when kids are going to school and buses are stopping," Nickles said.
Atlanta police say they continue to run overnight, undercover stings, but many times, since prostitution is a misdemeanor, prostitutes end up right back on the street.
The mayor's office says they are working on the issue, but it will take more than enforcement to change.
WSBTV
