Village Strengthens Licensing Law

The Village of Massapequa Park is toughening its business license law.

A public hearing held at the  Village Board meeting Monday on an amendment to a local law governing Licensed Occupations, which Altadonna said was necessary after last October's prostitution bust at a Massapequa Park massage parlor.

Five women were arrested at the Fortune Foot Spa on Front street. One of them was charged with prostitution, the other four were charged with practicing massage without a license.

“There have been a number of arrests for illegal establishments,” Altadonna said. “What we’ve been doing, and now we’re just strengthening the law, is try and put the person with the actual license. And in doing so, I believe that’s going to go a long way to thwarting these establishments from setting up in Massapequa Park.”

Altadonna reached out to the Spa's landlord a short time after the arrests to stop the business from reopening.

The Board unanimously voted to approve this amendment, which will now require proof of individual licenses for “employees performing services.” Village Attorney Kevin Walsh clarified what kind of establishments this amendment would be focusing on.

“This local law will add to the activities in the Village which will require a license,” he said. “A J-Section, which will be massage parlors, and a K-Section, which would be nail salons.”