With nearly a million people expected to come to Silicon Valley between the Super Bowl and FIFA World Cup in 2026, preparations are underway to ensure the Bay Area is ready. One of the things that law enforcement agencies are looking out for is a potential increase in human trafficking.
“As we get ready for some of the state’s largest events next year, the Super Bowl, FIFA World Cup, we recognize that human trafficking is a problem and that public transportation venues could often be a vector for some of these behaviors,” said Aston Greene, VTA Chief for System Safety & Security. “So, as we engage with law enforcement, we recognize also that we have to engage our ridership, we have to engage our operators and all employees to be mindful of what these behaviors look like, so that we could stop it from happening.”
On Oct. 29, VTA hosted representatives from local law enforcement, the hospitality industry, transportation agencies and local district attorneys at the Double Tree Hotel in San Jose to discuss how to identify and combat human trafficking during major events. Among the attendees were representatives from the Santa Clara Police Department (SCPD), which is already taking steps to ensure the safety of visitors to Santa Clara…