Lynn’s Warriors applauds the spirit of civic engagement and welcomes every opportunity to make New York a safer city for children, families and survivors of exploitation. But we cannot stay silent as proposals emerge that would fully decriminalize the sex trade. This move that would dismantle hard-won human-trafficking laws and place countless vulnerable New Yorkers at risk.

While we support ending the wrongful arrests and criminalization of those exploited in prostitution, we reject any policy that protects pimps, brothel owners or sex buyers. Decriminalization is not progress, it’s regression. It opens the door to brothels near schools, solicitation on our streets and organized crime thriving under a legal disguise.

Across the world, the evidence is clear: when prostitution is normalized, trafficking rises, violence increases and predators profit. The sex trade does not empower women or marginalized communities but exploits them.

“Exploitation is not empowerment. It’s survival in a system that has already failed too many,” said Lynn Shaw, founder of Lynn’s Warriors. “Children and vulnerable people will always be the first victims when profit and permissiveness replace protection and prevention.”

Lynn’s Warriors calls on Mayor-Elect Zohran Mamdani and all city leaders to stand firmly against any effort to legalize or sanitize commercial sexual exploitation. Instead, we urge investment in trauma-informed recovery services, education, housing and employment programs that give survivors real choices — not legalized abuse.

New York must lead with integrity, compassion and courage. We can be a city of equality and safety but never if we turn our backs on those still trapped in cycles of violence and exploitation.

Lynn’s Warriors will continue to fight for prevention, awareness and accountability because protecting our children and our communities is not negotiable.