diff --git a/backend.py b/backend.py
index 69575c8..5528493 100644
--- a/backend.py
+++ b/backend.py
@@ -59,10 +59,10 @@ class EventResource(object):
 
             if 'bbox' in req.params:
                 # limit search with bbox (E,S,W,N)
-                event_bbox = str(cur.mogrify(" AND geom && ST_SetSRID(ST_MakeBox2D(ST_Point(%s,%s),ST_Point(%s,%s)),4326) ",tuple(req.params['bbox']))).decode("utf-8")
+                event_bbox = cur.mogrify(" AND geom && ST_SetSRID(ST_MakeBox2D(ST_Point(%s,%s),ST_Point(%s,%s)),4326) ",tuple(req.params['bbox'])).decode("utf-8")
             elif 'near' in req.params:
                 # limit search with location+distance (long, lat, distance in meters)
-                event_bbox = str(cur.mogrify(" AND geom && st_expand(st_buffer(st_setsrid(st_makepoint(%s,%s),4326)::geography,%s)::geometry,0) ",tuple(req.params['near']))).decode("utf-8")
+                event_bbox = cur.mogrify(" AND geom && st_expand(st_buffer(st_setsrid(st_makepoint(%s,%s),4326)::geography,%s)::geometry,0) ",tuple(req.params['near'])).decode("utf-8")
             else:
                 event_bbox = ""