As Blakeman criticizes sex industry in Queens, he's mum on efforts to address it in Nassau

At a campaign stop Wednesday in Queens, Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman railed against the sex industry in the borough's Jackson Heights-Elmhurst neighborhoods that's been a source of yearslong complaints about covert brothels and open-air prostitution. 

"These poor women have made bad choices," Blakeman said. "But it doesn't necessarily mean they're bad people."

But while Blakeman, the Nassau County executive, underscored the impact the illegal sex industry has had in that area, notably along Roosevelt Avenue, a bill to impose greater enforcement on the sex trade industry in the county he leads has not advanced in the legislature.

At a news conference, Blakeman did not explain why he has yet to weigh in on a proposed bill to impose greater penalties on massage spas in Nassau County following a monthslong investigation by Newsday that found disparities in how illegal sex work is enforced across Long Island. The investigation found that sex is for sale at hundreds of foot spas and massage parlors in both counties.

Greater enforcement of illicit spas has the support of the public, according to a Newsday/Siena University poll, which found that 77% of Long Islanders backed a crackdown on illicit spas. 

Under the bill, introduced by Nassau Legis. Viviana Russell (D-Westbury), the county would increase penalties to has high as $25,000 against spa owners who sanction sex for sale. The businesses would also increase regulations relating to licensure, require certain proof of payment and prohibit staff from living in the location or sleeping there at night. There are currently no fines for owners.

“I haven’t seen the bill yet,” Blakeman said in response to questions. He added: “It hasn’t been introduced to the legislators yet.”

Blakeman did acknowledge “there is a relevance” between the legislation and a key topic of that political campaign event — illicit sex work and neighborhood nuisances — but said he’s waiting until the legislation is formally introduced before looking at it.

Michael Fricchione, a spokesman for the Democratic legislators, said the bill has been filed with the clerk and is publicly available if Blakeman wanted to see it.

“It’s been shared with the Republican caucus,” he said.

Presiding Officer Howard Kopel (R-Lawrence), the Nassau Legislature's Republican majority leader, who decides which bills get voted on, left the bill off the legislative calendar in September and October.

Mary Studdert, a spokeswoman for the Republican majority, said Kopel was working with the Blakeman administration to see how the bill would impact other businesses that offer massages, like nail salons.

Kopel and Russell were scheduled to meet about the bill this week. It is unclear whether the meeting took place.

The bill is one of dozens that Democrats have proposed since Kopel became head of the legislature. He has not brought any of them up for a vote, according to Democrats, except for a road-renaming bill and a bipartisan bill to ban kratom, known as "gas station heroin."

"It’s absurd," Russell previously told Newsday. "Whether a bill is introduced by the minority or the majority, if it makes sense for Nassau County, it should be discussed. ... We’re looking to ensure that Nassau County is safe, and that is not a political issue. It’s law and order."

Newsday's Bahar Ostadan contributed to this story. 

By Matthew Chayes

matthew.chayes@newsday.comchayesmatthew

Matthew Chayes, a Newsday reporter since 2007, covers New York City.