Therapists Confront Greenburgh Board on Proposed Massage Laws
Two proposed laws are before the Greenburgh Town Board to curb prostitution hidden in illicit massage establishments in the town, most prominently on Central Avenue. The public hearing, opened on June 10, attracted several licensed/clinical massage therapists who felt the proposed laws singled them out as professionals unfairly. Fingerprinting and deep background checks were included in one of the proposals.
Many of the therapists speaking at the hearing said their patients were referred to them by medical doctors and practitioners.
Greenburgh resident Bob Bernstein, responsible for one draft, based on a law that the Town of Clarkstown approved in the 1990s (as well as a more recent law on the books in Farmingdale, Long Island), said the existing laws in Greenburgh do not give law enforcement the tools they need to close illegal establishments permanently.
Bernstein’s proposal attempts to license businesses and not just the individual practitioner.
The second proposal, crafted by the Greenburgh Planning Board, tries to tie legal massage operations to special permit applications.
Discussions during the hearing showed that each of the proposals are works in progress and resulted in a somewhat confrontational discussion between proponents of the two options.
Greenburgh Police Chief Chris McNerney said his department has conducted many investigations and arrests regarding improper licensing at “massage parlors” in the town.
During these investigations it was clear that the massage operations were being used as fronts for prostitution. In most instances there was one licensed massage therapist on the premises and others who were working illegally according to the New York State Education Law that issues professional licenses.
“Despite all of our efforts, we have been unable to keep these establishments closed permanently,” McNerney said. “This is a chronic problem.”
Licensed massage therapists speaking at the hearing said they wanted to support the community but that a pre-emptive law would be unfair to professionals being singled out who are already monitored by state licensing laws. They suggested the Board look at existing NYS laws and at a specific bill that had passed through the state Senate and was currently in the Assembly.
“This is a prostitution issue, not a massage issue – although the pimps do operate under the guise of massage therapy,” Peter Walberg, a licensed massage therapist said.
It was generally agreed that the licensed professionals should be brought into the discussion.
The licensed professionals do not want a law that lumps them into the same category as people using the term “massage therapy” illegally. They said they were offended by the use of the term “massage parlor” to define professional therapeutic massage.
Operating outside the existing licensing laws in NYS already is a felony offense.
The public hearing was closed. More discussion on the proposed bills is expected at an upcoming work session of the Board.
