OAKLAND, Calif. (KRON) -- Oakland leaders are trying a new approach to crack down on sex trafficking in East Oakland. The city is looking to block off certain side streets near a known hotspot. The sex work primarily happens on International Boulevard. But because that's such a major throughway, th e city plans to install barricades on certain avenues to help assist police in their efforts to crack down on sex trafficking. In Oakland, drive along International Boulevard on a Sunday afternoon, and you’ll likely see it. Sex workers are out in the open. This stretch of East Oakland, known as “The Blade,” has long been a hotspot for sex trafficking. Now, the city plans to launch a pilot program -- installing barricades on three side streets that intersect with International Boulevard. Controversial Sunset Dunes park in SF celebrates 1-year anniversary City councilmember Charlene Wang says the strategy is to disrupt access for sex buyers or "Johns." "Because of the grid system, a lot of the Johns and purchasing of sex happen on these side streets, so the plan is to prevent people from entering those side streets, which actually forces the behavior to be concentrated on International Blvd. To supplement OPD's ability to enforce against human trafficking," Wang said. A new state law that took effect in January allows police to arrest people loitering with the intent to buy sex. Wang also authored an ordinance that directs fines from buyers and traffickers to support survivors. "Intending to purchase someone or has purchased someone for sex first time offense is ($4,000), and every subsequent offense is 8K after that," Wang said. "One hundred percent goes to exit services for those being trafficked on The Blade -- part of the ordinance that also does fine for traffickers themselves, that's 10K per victim per day. Then 20K for subsequent victims per day." The city tried a similar approach with barricades in 2023 on East 15th, but Wang says the problem simply shifted elsewhere. If successful, the program could expand to other parts of the city. Wang is also asking for community input at a meeting Monday night on which streets should be blocked off. Community members can hear the plan directly from the Department of Transportation and provide input at a meeting on Monday at 6 p.m. The meeting will be held at 2025 East 12th St. ...read more read less