By Legislator Viviana L. Russell
Recent actions by the Nassau County Legislature to prohibit short-term stays at local hotels will provide an important tool in the fight against human trafficking, sexual exploitation, and other illegal activity that too often occurs behind closed doors in our communities.
In April, the Legislature unanimously enacted a proposal that bans short-stay bookings under 8 hours, requires hotels and motels to document guests’ vital information, and keep copies of their IDs for five years. The measure would also require hotels and motels to keep security footage for at least 90 days and provide training to new employees to better equip them to spot the signs of human trafficking operations.
By limiting hourly bookings, strengthening guest documentation, requiring information regarding minors, and improving hotel and motel accountability, Nassau County is taking a necessary step to protect vulnerable individuals and support law enforcement efforts.
This is an important step forward, and our renewed focus on this critical issue can be a catalyst for further advancing the fight to end one of the world’s most systemic patterns of human rights abuses.
Police reports throughout our region and constituent complaints on the hyperlocal level have established a long and troubling pattern of certain nail salons and massage parlors serving as vessels for prostitution. At face value, these concerns are rightly troubling on their own, and they diminish the quality of life and safety for the communities they are operating within.
In numerous cases, the individuals accused of performing illicit acts are victims themselves and have been smuggled into the country without documentation – ensnared in a dangerous web of sex trafficking, exploitation, and abuse that feels impossible to escape.
The patrons of such establishments are similarly being placed in harm’s way. This was vividly illustrated through a recent case in Suffolk County, where a massage parlor employee was charged with forcibly touching at least two patrons.
These cases present us with a need for multifaceted short- and long-term solutions. Enforcement is part of the equation, and Nassau County already does an excellent job in partnership with the Department of Consumer Affairs to effectuate enforcement actions. I look forward to working with both agencies to further bolster those efforts.
Legislation is another necessary prong. Now that we have taken action to starve sex traffickers of one venue for their crimes by cracking down on short-stay hotel rentals, we must remain vigilant and proactive as we anticipate their next moves. Enacting similarly rigorous restrictions to prevent nail salons and massage parlors from operating as dens of iniquity in our neighborhoods is a logical next step, and I am exploring legislative solutions to effectuate those changes. We must also take a closer look at preventing short-term rent shares from being exploited in a similar fashion.
Education – for members of the general public and victims of sex crimes alike – is a third essential element. I encourage you to follow me on social media for details about an October panel discussion I will be participating in focused on ways we can combat human trafficking.
Hearing the voices of victims of these vile crimes provides essential perspectives on not just the root causes and impacts, but insights about how we can help them escape sex trafficking, empower them to rebuild their lives, and work proactively to prevent it in the first place.
In each of our own lives, we can do our part to elevate awareness throughout our society. Each of us can become more aware of how important agencies are fighting back against sexual abuse and trafficking, and I encourage you to spread the word about the services provided by these essential organizations and others that make a daily impact.
National Human Trafficking Hotline - 1-888-373-7888
https://humantraffickinghotline.org/
U.S. Department of State – 20 Ways to Prevent Human Trafficking
https://www.state.gov/20-ways-you-can-help-fight-human-trafficking
New York State – Assistance for Victims of Human Trafficking
https://otda.ny.gov/programs/bria/trafficking.asp
Crime Victims Center of Long Island - (516) 465-4700
https://www.parentsformeganslaw.org/
Nassau County Rape and Domestic Violence Hotline – 516-542-0404
Rape, Incest and Abuse National Network - https://rainn.org/
Operator of the National Sexual Assault Hotline – 1-800-656-4673
Viviana L. Russell, of Westbury, represents Nassau County’s Second Legislative District.