Sex Work Decriminalization Becomes Flashpoint in NYC Mayoral Race

Sex work decriminalization has emerged as a central issue in the New York City mayoral race. Zohran Mamdani, the frontrunner after his June primary victory, is facing repeated attacks from incumbent Mayor Eric Adams and former Governor Andrew Cuomo, both of whom are attempting to frame his past support for full decriminalization as extreme.

While serving in the New York State Assembly, Mamdani co-sponsored Cecilia’s Act, a bill to decriminalize consensual adult sex work, supported by Decriminalize Sex Work (DSW). Now, as a mayoral candidate, his campaign has emphasized a return to the de Blasio-era approach of declining to prosecute sex workers, while remaining vague on whether those who purchase sex would continue to face penalties.

Eric Adams and Andrew Cuomo have used every opportunity to invoke public fear around “legalization” (a misnomer for what is actually decriminalization) and to paint Mamdani as a radical. As DSW Legal Director Melissa Broudo explained during her appearance on The Capitol Pressroom, this is less about policy and more about fearmongering:

“The issue around sex work provokes such an emotional, sort of moral response in people. I think it is often utilized by the people that oppose decriminalization as a fear tactic … rather than actually having a conversation about health, safety, and justice.”

Broudo also noted that whether sex work is criminalized is ultimately a state-level decision. What the mayor does control is policing priorities and collaboration with district attorneys. In other words, even if elected, Mamdani could not single-handedly decriminalize sex work in New York — a fact often lost in the campaign trail mudslinging.

By the Numbers: Arrests Already in Decline

Coverage by Spectrum News NY1 highlights just how much the landscape has already shifted in New York City. According to data obtained from the NYPD, arrests for prostitution-related offenses fell from thousands annually in 2014 to just 302 in 2023. Both the Manhattan and Brooklyn district attorneys have stopped prosecuting sex workers altogether, while other boroughs have adopted diversion or dismissal policies.

As Broudo noted in that segment, “The way that police in New York engage in policing sex work has shifted.” Still, crackdowns continue in Queens, where arrests have recently spiked.

This decline in arrests demonstrates that New York City is already moving away from criminalizing sex workers. Advocates contend the next step is to codify this progress through full decriminalization, preventing harmful raids such as those still taking place in Queens.

Listen: Melissa Broudo on the Capitol Pressroom
Watch: Melissa Broudo on Spectrum News NY1