diff --git a/backend.py b/backend.py
index 96a64d1..97d2a81 100644
--- a/backend.py
+++ b/backend.py
@@ -59,25 +59,25 @@ class EventResource(object):
 
             if 'bbox' in req.params:
                 # limit search with bbox (E,S,W,N)
-                event_bbox = cur.mogrify(" AND geom && ST_SetSRID(ST_MakeBox2D(ST_Point(%s,%s),ST_Point(%s,%s)),4326) ",tuple(req.params['bbox']))
+                event_bbox = str(cur.mogrify(" AND geom && ST_SetSRID(ST_MakeBox2D(ST_Point(%s,%s),ST_Point(%s,%s)),4326) ",tuple(req.params['bbox'])))
             elif 'near' in req.params:
                 # limit search with location+distance (long, lat, distance in meters)
-                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']))
+                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'])))
             else:
                 event_bbox = ""
 
             if 'when' in req.params:
                 # limit search with fixed time
-                event_when = cur.mogrify("tstzrange(%s,%s,'[]')",(req.params['when'],req.params['when']))
+                event_when = str(cur.mogrify("tstzrange(%s,%s,'[]')",(req.params['when'],req.params['when'])))
             elif 'start' in req.params and 'stop' in req.params:
                 # limit search with fixed time
-                event_when = cur.mogrify("tstzrange(%s,%s,'[]')",(req.params['start'],req.params['stop']))
+                event_when = str(cur.mogrify("tstzrange(%s,%s,'[]')",(req.params['start'],req.params['stop'])))
             else:
                 event_when = """tstzrange(now(),now(),'[]')"""
 
             if 'what' in req.params:
                 # limit search based on "what"
-                event_what = cur.mogrify(" AND events_what LIKE %s ",(req.params['what']+"%",))
+                event_what = str(cur.mogrify(" AND events_what LIKE %s ",(req.params['what']+"%",)))
             else:
                 event_what = ""