Mechelen (The Brussels Morning Newspaper): Mayor Bart Somers of Mechelen closed a problematic building used for prostitution responding to neighbor complaints. Stricter penalties will follow for repeated violations to ensure neighborhood safety and order.
In July Mayor Bart Somers of Mechelen shut down a building on Vondelstraat near Vrijbroekpark for the first time. They did this because the person renting the place was using it for foreign prostitutes which was bothering the neighbors a lot. The mayor said that although prostitution is not illegal if it causes problems in the neighborhood the city can do something about it. Because the activities in the building were causing issues they decided to close it to stop the disturbances and keep the area peaceful.
How is Mayor Somers addressing prostitution and disturbances in Mechelen?
The mayor closed the building for two weeks at first because of the problems. Then after more complaints he closed it again for a month. The police sealed the building and there were some women inside. The mayor mentioned he’s not sure if it involves human trafficking as that’s for the police and prosecutors to look into. He’s doing what he can within his authority to handle the situation.
The Mayor of Mechelen Bart Somers said they will give harsher punishments for each time someone breaks the rules in that building. They want to make it tougher for people to keep breaking the rules there. If there are more problems the city will close the building for even longer. This is to punish repeated rule-breaking and stop it from happening again. They want to make sure people follow the rules and keep things in order.
How is Mayor Somers cracking down on problematic building and prostitution in Mechelen?
The mayor is saying that the things happening in the building don’t fit with how the city wants its neighborhoods to be. He wants to make sure the area is nice and safe for everyone living there. The owner of the building has started a legal process against the tenant through the justice of the peace. The owner wants to remove the tenant quickly. This legal action is in line with the city’s position and the community’s wish to stop the troubling activities. The owner and the city are working together to stop these activities and make sure the building is used properly.
It has been said that if prostitution or other problems happen again within a month the city will give even tougher punishments each time it occurs. They want to make sure these issues are dealt with seriously and stopped from happening again. If there are more problems the city will close the building for even longer. This is to punish repeated rule-breaking and stop it from happening again. They want to make sure people follow the rules and keep things in order.
