Brothels fronting as massage parlors targeted under Queens councilmember's bills - Gothamist

[massage]

City Councilmember Francisco Moya is taking aim at the brothels fronting as massage parlors in his Queens district by proposing legislation giving the city new tools to intervene.

Moya, a Democrat, has introduced two bills giving the city a role in regulating massage businesses, a chore now largely under the state’s purview. The measures come amid a recent crackdown on brothels operating on Roosevelt Avenue and other nearby Queens streets.

In January, the NYPD with Mayor Eric Adams in tow, shut down more than a dozen massage parlors it alleged were fronts for brothels. It closed the businesses under city nuisance law, after officers posing as customers alleged they were propositioned for sex acts in exchange for money, police said. Moya’s measures would give the city other tools for disrupting illegitimate businesses.

“These businesses are fronts for human trafficking and exploitation and they are now openly operating in residential neighborhoods at all hours of the day,” Moya said in a statement. “The influx of migrants has also contributed to this issue, with many allegedly being held without their consent.”

Corona resident Gabriela Tosreis told Gothamist in an interview that sex workers are hard to miss on the street, which are lined with small businesses, pre-K centers, day cares, eateries and a public school.

“I've always seen the girls around the neighborhood on Roosevelt Avenue, but it's more so around 82nd Street,” Tosreis said. “But I'm starting to notice them a lot more. I've noticed them popping up over the last few months to a year by 90th Street.”

The New York State Society of Medical Massage Therapists has taken note of the activity in Queens.

“In New York City, the problem reached a point that prostitution disguised as massage was openly practiced as children were walking home from school as in NYC Councilman Moya’s district.” Gail Balas, a New York City representative of the group, said in a statement.

Here’s more on what to know about the issue and the pending bills:

What’s being proposed?​

One bill requires “fixed location” massage businesses to obtain a new city license to operate as a “massage therapy business” and to display their licenses prominently on the premises. It also prohibits the employment of unlicensed individuals to provide massage services and requires businesses to maintain records of their staff's credentials.

Penalties for violating the business license requirement would total up to $1,500 for a first offense and between $2,500 and $5,000 for continued offenses. Businesses that employ unlicensed massage therapists would face a penalty up to $500 for the first offense and between $1,500 and $3,000 for continued offenses. Businesses that don't keep records of their staff’s massage license would face penalties of up to $250 for a first offense and $750 to $1,500 for continued offenses.

What else is being proposed?​

A second bill requires the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene to set minimum standards for sanitation and cleanliness in areas where massages are given, as well as for any equipment used in delivering services. According to Moya, the department would issue grades akin to the letter grades issued to restaurants. It would be up to the department to set penalties for violations not addressed in the bill.

Aren’t these businesses already regulated?​

Yes, but there’s a gap. The state Department of Education issues licenses for massage therapists, but there currently are no specific regulations for operating a massage therapy business in the city – beyond the need to secure a general city business license, Moya said.

Under state law, to use the titles "massage therapist," "masseur," or "masseuse," the provider must graduate from a school or institute of massage therapy, complete CPR training and 1,000 hours of study, along with 150 hours of practice.

With the changes, the proposed regulations would treat massage businesses much like barbershops, hair and nail salons, which each have their own license requirements.

How does the legislation square with other enforcement efforts?​

The measure targets the businesses that employ sex workers, rather than employees themselves. In recent years, the NYPD has shifted from arresting sex workers to targeting the establishments that employ the workers.

Likewise, constrained by new laws making it harder to bring prostitution cases to trial, local prosecutors have increasingly stopped targeting sex workers.

What does the massage therapists’ trade association have to say about the bills?​

The New York State Society of Medical Massage Therapists backs the legislation, said Balas, a New York City representative.

She said unlicensed practitioners are a threat to the industry and to customers.

“The individual is likely to not have medical training to be touching people and not knowing the consumer’s medical history to know when NOT to massage,” Balas in a statement. “An unlicensed individual would not be educated in the contraindications and what is proper protocol for various pathologies.”

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