Q&A
License transferability and addressing human trafficking in hotels
0:40:58
·
83 sec
DCWP representatives discuss concerns about license transferability and propose ways to address human trafficking issues within the hotel licensing framework.
- DCWP recommends against easy transferability of hotel licenses to maintain accountability
- The agency suggests incorporating human trafficking violations into the licensing review process
- New York State ranks 4th in the nation for human trafficking, with an estimated 3,000 victims in NYC hotels
Carlos Ortiz
0:40:58
Counsel Mara, if I could also add to to other points to this.
0:41:00
I think something we also noted in the testimony relates to the transferability of the license.
0:41:06
And that is something that is not right now something existent in other license categories for us.
0:41:11
Mostly because we wanna make sure whoever gets that first license, that they are accountable, that we have that information.
0:41:16
So if it's too easy for them to transfer to another entity, that could be a problem ultimately for enforcement.
0:41:22
And going into the the the human trafficking component, I think it's fair to say that we we shouldn't necessarily be the agency that is issuing violations or bringing violations to an adjudication for human trafficking.
0:41:36
But I think we can be very much creative in a way of how we can make sure that if the district attorney brings us an adjudicated violation, if p if PD brings us an adjudicated violation of human trafficking, that we can make sure that we review that under the licensing scheme as a way to to review the license itself for that holder.
0:41:55
So I think, again, on these pieces, we we have a lot of thoughts about how to how to strengthen and make sure that the actors are accountable for their actions here.
Julie Menin
0:42:03
Thank you for bringing up this very important point on the human trafficking.
0:42:06
It's unacceptable that New York State ranks 4th in the nation on human trafficking.
0:42:10
Right now, as we speak, it's estimated there are 3000, largely women and children in human trafficking situation in New York City's hotels.
0:42:17
So this is such an important public safety issue.
