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Fair A brothel down the block? Police try to nip prostitution in central Nassau County
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In the span of about eight months, three suspicious neighborhood businesses have been closed for solicitation of prostitution. The fact that these crimes took place in such a quiet community, however, has some civic leaders and legitimate storeowners concerned.
Town Councilman Gary Hudes (R-Levittown), who worked closely with Nassau County detectives to get the three East Meadow brothels shut down, doesn't believe the neighborhood has a prostitution problem, but thinks it's important to nip these crimes in the bud.
"If you allow it to continue uninterrupted, you're going to get more of it," he said. "It's important to send a message to these establishments that this community is not going to tolerate it."
Hudes has been keeping his eye on suspect businesses that have opened in the area, alerting police to their presence. "Some of these places stand out like sore thumbs," he said, noting that all have telltale characteristics and some even brazenly advertise their services.
Often run under the guise of a nail salon or massage parlor, the stores usually have closed vertical blinds, making it impossible for passersby to see inside, and stay open well after normal business hours. It's also common that patrons, watched by surveillance cameras, have to be buzzed inside.
Just last month, two such establishments were closed on Hempstead Turnpike, after workers there offered to perform sexual acts on undercover detectives. One was located at 2063, inside the Meadowbrook Square shopping center, and the other at 2382.
"It cheapens the whole shopping center," said Maria, a manager at the Verizon store adjacent to 2063 Hempstead Tpk., who asked that her last name be withheld. "This is the suburbs and a shopping center. The high school is just around the block. It's almost like, 'How dare you?'"
Last April, Nails by Mina, at 305 Newbridge Rd., was closed for doubling as a brothel.
Perhaps most alarming is that all three closed shops were located just yards from homes. "These places do not belong in anyone's community," said Robert Zafonte, president of the East Meadow Civic Association. "They're against the law. Hopefully, they will not move into another community."
Though prostitution was once thought to be uncommon in suburbs like East Meadow, brothels have been turning up more frequently throughout Nassau County, said Detective Lt. John Wolff of the Nassau County Police Department Narcotics and Vice Bureau.
"In the last year or so, they've been popping up all over the place," Wolff said. "It could be anywhere, but mostly on the busy streets. We've had them on Sunrise Highway, Hempstead Turnpike, Jericho Turnpike.
"We have no power to close these places," Wolff went on. "The building departments of the individual towns are the ones that bring the action against them. A lot of times after arrests, they just leave anyway, because it's easier to relocate than having the girls get arrested all the time."
Under current Town of Hempstead law, it takes two "predicate offenses" for an establishment to be closed down. Predicate offenses include prostitution and the sale of drugs. The town's public-nuisance law states that if two predicate arrests occur on the same premises during a 12-month period, the courts can force the tenants out.
When asked if the town law should be made stricter, Hudes said, "I'd like to see how it works out with the law the way it is now. Right now, the way the law is set up, I think it's working out quite well."
Any East Meadow resident who spots a questionable business where prostitution might be taking place is urged to call the Nassau County Police Department Narcotics and Vice Bureau at (516) 573-3400 or Hudes's office at (516) 489-5000, extension 3200.
"We're also looking for cooperation from landlords," Hudes said. "In many cases, the landlords are unaware of what's taking place. They're renting out the building in good faith."
Town Councilman Gary Hudes (R-Levittown), who worked closely with Nassau County detectives to get the three East Meadow brothels shut down, doesn't believe the neighborhood has a prostitution problem, but thinks it's important to nip these crimes in the bud.
"If you allow it to continue uninterrupted, you're going to get more of it," he said. "It's important to send a message to these establishments that this community is not going to tolerate it."
Hudes has been keeping his eye on suspect businesses that have opened in the area, alerting police to their presence. "Some of these places stand out like sore thumbs," he said, noting that all have telltale characteristics and some even brazenly advertise their services.
Often run under the guise of a nail salon or massage parlor, the stores usually have closed vertical blinds, making it impossible for passersby to see inside, and stay open well after normal business hours. It's also common that patrons, watched by surveillance cameras, have to be buzzed inside.
Just last month, two such establishments were closed on Hempstead Turnpike, after workers there offered to perform sexual acts on undercover detectives. One was located at 2063, inside the Meadowbrook Square shopping center, and the other at 2382.
"It cheapens the whole shopping center," said Maria, a manager at the Verizon store adjacent to 2063 Hempstead Tpk., who asked that her last name be withheld. "This is the suburbs and a shopping center. The high school is just around the block. It's almost like, 'How dare you?'"
Last April, Nails by Mina, at 305 Newbridge Rd., was closed for doubling as a brothel.
Perhaps most alarming is that all three closed shops were located just yards from homes. "These places do not belong in anyone's community," said Robert Zafonte, president of the East Meadow Civic Association. "They're against the law. Hopefully, they will not move into another community."
Though prostitution was once thought to be uncommon in suburbs like East Meadow, brothels have been turning up more frequently throughout Nassau County, said Detective Lt. John Wolff of the Nassau County Police Department Narcotics and Vice Bureau.
"In the last year or so, they've been popping up all over the place," Wolff said. "It could be anywhere, but mostly on the busy streets. We've had them on Sunrise Highway, Hempstead Turnpike, Jericho Turnpike.
"We have no power to close these places," Wolff went on. "The building departments of the individual towns are the ones that bring the action against them. A lot of times after arrests, they just leave anyway, because it's easier to relocate than having the girls get arrested all the time."
Under current Town of Hempstead law, it takes two "predicate offenses" for an establishment to be closed down. Predicate offenses include prostitution and the sale of drugs. The town's public-nuisance law states that if two predicate arrests occur on the same premises during a 12-month period, the courts can force the tenants out.
When asked if the town law should be made stricter, Hudes said, "I'd like to see how it works out with the law the way it is now. Right now, the way the law is set up, I think it's working out quite well."
Any East Meadow resident who spots a questionable business where prostitution might be taking place is urged to call the Nassau County Police Department Narcotics and Vice Bureau at (516) 573-3400 or Hudes's office at (516) 489-5000, extension 3200.
"We're also looking for cooperation from landlords," Hudes said. "In many cases, the landlords are unaware of what's taking place. They're renting out the building in good faith."
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