REMARKS
Council Member Moya advocates for Intro 970 to address illegal massage businesses
0:18:26
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3 min
Council Member Francisco Moya provides context and urgently advocates for Intro 970, a bill he introduced to combat the proliferation of illegal massage businesses in New York City, particularly in his district in Queens. He emphasizes the need for a licensing system to regulate these businesses, which are often fronts for human trafficking and exploitation.
- Moya describes the current situation, with illegal massage businesses openly operating in residential areas and near schools, causing distress to the community and legitimate businesses.
- The proposed bill, Intro 970, would establish a city licensing system for massage businesses, mandating proper credentials and record-keeping.
- Moya highlights support for the legislation from organizations like the New York State Society of Medical Massage Therapists and A21, a nonprofit fighting human trafficking.
Francisco Moya
0:18:26
Good.
0:18:27
Thank you, Chairman, and and good morning to all my colleagues who are here today.
0:18:32
I'd like to provide some context on an urgent need for the bill that I've introduced that is being heard here today, intro 970.illegal massage businesses have been rapidly spreading across New York City, especially in Queens.
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And ground 0 for this proliferation is Roosevelt Avenue in my district.
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These businesses are fronts for human trafficking and exploitation, and they are now openly operating in residential neighborhoods during all times of the day.
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Just take a walk down any commercial street, go to Roosevelt Avenue, Junction, Boulevard, and many other streets, and you'll see the problem.
0:19:05
Women displayed in storefronts after storefronts all hours and night and all hours of the day and night aggressively soliciting bypasses to come in.
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These are unclean, unsafe fronts for human trafficking operating in broad daylight.
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They have opened without regard for the surrounding areas, which includes being steps away from schools, churches, senior centers, and homes.
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I think that we can all agree that parents should not have to walk their children past these unacceptable businesses on the way to school every morning.
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Business owners are pleading for help because the illegal massage providers are causing them to lose customers.
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This whole situation is unacceptable.
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It It brings down our neighborhood, allows uncomfortable criminal activity in terms of entire areas into the red light districts.
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My district is becoming a red light district and has even been promoted on social media in YouTube as a place where you can come and solicit this type of service.
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Even even licensed massage therapists are impacted as some male customers mistakenly expect to be offered illegal services there, putting them in dangerous situations.
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Unlike a hair salon, barbershop, or nail salon, there's no business license for a massage therapy business, which means unlike these those operations, there's no mechanism to create health code standards.
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But this bill offers a solution, intro 970 establishes a city licensing system, so massage businesses must obtain proper credentials to operate legally.
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No more unlicensed, unregulated operations.
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It also mandates proper record keeping for staff credentials, which will help eliminate unlicensed, unregulated operations in New York City.
0:20:41
Through licensing requirements and health standards enforcement by law, we can crack down on those operating illegally, unethically, while allowing legitimate massage therapist to properly serve New York.
0:20:53
This bill safeguards public health com combats human trafficking and upholds the ethical standards that we know.
0:21:01
I cannot overstate the urgency of this legislation for the safety of our neighborhood, the dignity of our communities, and the rights of vulnerable populations, we must act decisively.
0:21:11
Even the New York State Society of Medical Massage therapist, a non for profit organization dedicated to the education and advancement of massage therapy professions, which uphold ethical standards and works to prevent abuse of illegal and unethical practices supports this important piece of legislation.
0:21:28
Additionally, a 21, a nonprofit organization committed to fighting human trafficking including sexual exploitation across the nation also backs this critical initiative.
0:21:38
So I urge all of you to please support this legislation.
0:21:41
It's a past time that we put an end to this uncontrolled conditions where we're seeing throughout our city.
0:21:48
Thank you, chairman, and for giving me the opportunity to speak on this bill today.
