On Thursday, the NYPD closed down at least six illegal brothels fronting as massage parlors in Corona, Queens, as part of a "quality of life" enforcement operation.
The police and local officials witnessed the brothels in "full effect" when they monitored the neighborhood at around 1:30 am.
NYPD Shut Down 6 Illegal Brothels in Queens
The police obtained court orders based on their observations. They returned in the afternoon and closed at least six massage parlors along Roosevelt Avenue.
Following citizen complaints, the city launched a campaign against prostitution and sex trafficking led by Mayor Eric Adams.
"Sex trafficking is real, and these horrid conditions makes it clear why the New York City Police Department is not going to city idly by and pretend that it does not happen," Adams said.
NYPD Assistant Commissioner Kaz Daughtry sent a message to owners of brothels who operate illegal shops.
Daughtry claimed they would come and send out under covers, and they would do everything within the law to shut down illegal brothels. He warned that if they opened up again under a different name, they would shut down the shop again.
He added that they do not want to lock up women who work in the shops, but they want to get them help. He noted that their job as the police department is to help them get the services that they need so they do not have to do illegal work.
No women were arrested, but none of the operators of the accused brothels were arrested either.
Adams stated the importance of quality of life for residents in the community during a tactical briefing before the busts. He said it was important to focus on the brothels that would downgrade the quality of life of their community.
Corona Combats Prostitution
The joint operation on Thursday follows Democratic City Councilman Francisco Moya's November statement to The New York Post that he was developing legislation to toughen laws against prostitution in his district of Corona.
Moya explained that the bill would allow city officials to perform random inspections of brothels posing as massage parlors, including allowing the city Health Department to conduct inspections of such places.
He told the publication that prostitution remains a concern in their district, now even more prominently in broad daylight. He said they were flooded with complaints daily, with reports from schools, concerned parents, residents, and local business owners.
The councilman added that their goal is to reduce activities that threaten the health and safety of the entire community, as they know they cannot completely end prostitution.
In November, a spokesperson for the Health Department and Mayor's Office told the publication that it planned to review Moya's legislation, although the measure has not yet been formally introduced.
