Businesses put on notice for prostitution

Jennifer Kho

COSTA MESA -- The city this week sent letters to four strip mall

landlords alleging that some of their tenants are engaging in

prostitution on their properties, Mayor Gary Monahan announced Friday.

“What our city attorney’s office is doing is putting them on notice

that we know they’ve got prostitution in there and police have seen it,”

he said, adding that landlords are required to prohibit prostitution on

their properties. “Enough is enough. It’s time to move on. If you don’t

clean up or get out, we will take action against you.”

The city claims four businesses -- Hana Acupuncture on West 19th

Street, A’s Tanning on Adams Avenue, Creek Acu Therapy on Bristol Street

and Chiropractic Accu-Center on Newport Boulevard -- are fronts for

prostitution houses.

The city has filed criminal charges against employees at those

businesses, but has not filed lawsuits against the businesses or

landlords, said Deputy City Atty. Heather Iker.

Authorities have gathered substantial evidence of prostitution during

undercover operations, she said.

Police officials could not be reached for comment.

The businesses deny the accusations.

“We only provide tanning,” said Grace Yi, manager at A’s Tanning.

“Nothing else. No call girls, no nothing. Just tanning.”

The manager of Hana Acupuncture, who would not reveal his name, said

the letters are unfair.

“This is wrong,” he said. “It’s not true. Why is this happening to me?

This is the first time I’m seeing this accusation. I don’t know what to

do.”

Police did visit his business earlier this month and accused an

employee of prostitution, as well as of stealing a coat, he said.

The employee denied the charges and the case is still pending trial,

he added.

“I don’t know anything about it,” the owner said. “How could I know if

anything happened or not? She’s the only one who was accused and she says

she didn’t do it. So I just have to wait and see what the court decides.”

Neighbors of Hana Acupuncture said there has been a lot of traffic at

the business.

Two years ago, the City Council passed an ordinance requiring

masseuses to go through a rigorous licensing process to practice in the

city. The ordinance was an attempt to rid the city of prostitution houses

fronting as massage parlors, Monahan said, and the city is now trying to

expand the ordinance to include chiropractors and acupuncturists.

Prompted by tips from neighboring businesses last week, the city has

also launched investigations into two other businesses suspected of

prostitution, Monahan said.