One of the greater appeals of living in Clarkstown has long been our well-earned reputation for
the quality of life enjoyed by our residents. Fantastic schools, low crime, an amazing array of
parks, pools, and playgrounds, proximity to New York City, and easy access to all the area’s
major roadways all contribute to making Clarkstown a great place to live. Another factor that
directly affects our quality of life is access to a wide variety of retail and service establishments,
and while we are extremely fortunate to have a great mix of national chains and small
businesses that contribute positively to our town, there are also instances where illegally
operating businesses have a negative impact on our community. Over the past several months,
my administration, the Clarkstown Police Department, and the town’s code enforcement agents
have been working together to shut down a number of massage parlors that were apparently
operating illegally here in town.
Between resident tips and the work of the police department’s Street Crime Unit, five
establishments were identified, investigated, and charged with criminal and code violations as
part of a new enforcement initiative to crack down on violations of local town codes, human
trafficking concerns, and illicit activities associated with these unlicensed establishments. Going
even further, the town is taking the unprecedented action of expanding on the police
investigative efforts by filing actions in the State Supreme Court against the property owners to
seek the permanent closure of these illegal business locations.
As a result of these efforts to protect our community, five illegal massage parlors were raided
and several individuals were arrested on multiple charges related to their involvement in these
operations.
Unfortunately, human trafficking is very real. During the past four years we have witnessed an
exponential rise in these types of establishments across the region and the country. In fact, the
Department of Homeland Security has reported many cases of women being trafficked into the
country and forced into prostitution. These unfortunate victims are promised a better life of
opportunity only to find upon arrival that they have been forced into a life of prostitution and
forced labor.
I want to assure our residents that Clarkstown is fully committed to ensuring that all businesses
in our town operate within the law and uphold the safety and well-being of our residents. Illegal
massage parlors often serve as fronts for human trafficking and other illicit activities, and we will
not tolerate these operations in our community. Special thanks to Clarkstown Police Chief Jeff Wanamaker for leading this successful and comprehensive investigation. I also want to thank
the residents who brought forth their concerns, as this underscores the important role that
community involvement plays in addressing illegal activities.
The establishments are being issued various town code violations and citations, and the town is
taking the appropriate and necessary legal actions against these non-compliant establishments.
In addition, the town is taking the extra step of pursuing legal action against the property
owners. Town attorneys are in court with Snow Church Realty Corp., Iglesias Real Estate
Holding of NY Inc., and CASMAC Associates LLC for injunctive relief to immediately shut down
the illegal operations and remove them from the premises as they constitute an ongoing public
nuisance.
As long as I am Supervisor, I can assure you that we will continue to take action against those
who seek to exploit and operate outside the law. We have created an aggressive code
enforcement operation which works in tandem with our extraordinary police department to
protect our quality of life. This multi-faceted effort is directly in line with the strategy we
implemented in pursuing illegal housing, and set the bar for how other municipalities deal with
the same issues across the state.
It may be an over-used adage, but it remains highly effective: If you see something, say
something. You can report suspicious businesses or activities to the town through the My
Clarkstown App or by calling the non-emergency police number at 845-639-5800.
