Res. No. 288
Title
Resolution calling upon the New York State Legislature to pass, and the Governor to sign, comprehensive legislation to prevent the continued operation and proliferation of illegal massage businesses in New York City.
Body
By Council Members Vallone, Brannan and Holden
Whereas, The think tank Urban Institute found in 2014 that the illicit massage industry is increasing in the United States ('U.S.'), with an estimated total annual revenue of $2.5 billion; and
Whereas, The Polaris Project, an anti-human trafficking advocacy group, states that the illicit massage industry is the second largest U.S. human trafficking industry after escort services; and
Whereas, New York City, Los Angeles and San Francisco are the main ports of entry where recruits with promises of legitimate employment first enter the illicit massage industry; and
Whereas, There are an estimated 695 illicit massage parlors in New York that offer explicit sex acts for pay; and
Whereas, New York City has the third largest population of illicit massage businesses ('IMB') nationwide but lacks the strong regulatory structure that has contributed to the closure of over 100 such businesses in Los Angeles and San Francisco; and
Whereas, Formalizing the massage therapy profession through regulation discredits illegal activities that are currently masked under the umbrella of massage therapy services; and
Whereas, New York State Assemblyman Michael Miller introduced a package of bills (A.490, A. 629, A.639, A.743, A.2839) directed at regulating the massage industry and making it difficult to operate an IMB; and
Whereas, New York Assembly bill A.490 requires that landlords verify the licensure of massage therapists tenants or risk a civil penalty for verification failure, and A.743 authorizes a landlord to cancel a lease and evict a tenant that promotes prostitution and/or practices massage therapy without a professional license; and
Whereas, The Polar...
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