Manhattan Will Stop Prosecuting Prostitution, Unlicensed Massage Cases

The office will cease prosecuting prostitution and unlicensed massages, with a judge approving the dismissal of over 900 cases, many of which are decades old. This also applies to thousands of loitering cases related to prostitution. These actions may indicate shifting societal views on the sex industry.

What does the phrase 'loitering for the purpose of prostitution' refer to?

What might these developments indicate about societal views on the sex industry?