JACKSON HEIGHTS, QUEENS (PIX11) -- Open prostitution continues in broad daylight along Roosevelt Avenue, with recent cleanup efforts seeming to have no impact.
Local Councilman Francisco Moya, who said it is as bad as he has ever seen, wants to use red tape to turn off the “red light” spas that are essentially front for prostitutes and pimps.
Moya worked with the Mayor to crack down on the prostitution earlier this year, which resulted in the shut down a number of “spas.”
However, the effort required a lot of police work and illegal activity came right back.
Currently in New York City, massage parlors do not need a license— although massage therapist themselves are regulated by the state of New York.
Moya is pushing legislation that would mandate business licensing. This would make spas subject to NYC health and safety inspections— inevitably shutting down illegitimate spas that are fronts for prostitution.
“This bill is going to secure the public safety for one, prevent human trafficking, two, and three and it’s going to help regulate an industry that has not been regulated for years,” Moya said.
The bill still needs to accumulate enough sponsors and go through the hearing process.
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