Massage parlor ban extended
Arcadia extended its ban on Massage parlors for another 10 months, to "study" the issue. Several members of the City Council are worried that the parlors are fronts for prostitution. The vote is a happy ending for cops who have recently cracked down.
Here's the top of Alfred Lee's story on the issue:
ARCADIA - City officials have extended a moratorium on massage therapy businesses by another 10 and a half months.
Believing that such businesses are often a front for prostitution, officials first enacted a 45-day ban on Oct. 21 on all new license applications for businesses that supply massages as a secondary service - such as spas, acupuncturists and chiropractors.
Arcadia also stopped issuing new licenses to massage therapists; more than 700 such permits had been handed out in the past three years.
In addition to unanimously voting Tuesday to extend the ban, the City Council also added amendments that allow already licensed businesses and therapists to relocate.
"What we're saying (to massage businesses) is that if someone leaves, you can't get anybody new for 10 months, unless they're already licensed," Councilman Gary Kovacic said.
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| Frank Girardot, Metro Editor for the San Gabriel Valley Newspapers, brings you behind the yellow tape with takes on true crime, cold cases and more. This is also your forum to discuss crime, its impact on your neighborhood and how we cover it. Have any questions or tips? You can leave a comment here or e-mail Frank. |
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Brian Day is the crime reporter for the San Gabriel Valley Newspaper group. E-mail Brian. |
I'm a massage therapist in Pasadena and I think this is ridiculous. There's no reason for innocent people who are trying to earn a living to suffer just because of a few prostitutes. Can't they investigate without preventing therapists from getting a license and businesses from hiring new therapists for the next ten months? If 700 licenses have been given out in the last three years, then over 200 therapists will be blocked from getting their licenses over the next ten months. Imagine all the new graduates in Arcadia, fresh out of school and eager to work, finding out they can’t work in their city for the next ten months. That seems like an extreme measure to take just because they “suspect” that some people “may be” using massage as a front for prostitution. Well, let me put their minds to rest: People ARE using massage as a front for prostitution, in every city across the country. They always have and they always will. Police usually turn a blind eye, until one day they pop up with something like this and punish everybody. It’s not fair. Police should investigate and decide who to target, not just lazily put a ban on all massage. This is completely unacceptable.
I'm a massage therapist in Pasadena and I think this is ridiculous. There's no reason for innocent people who are trying to earn a living to suffer just because of a few prostitutes. Can't they investigate without preventing therapists from getting a license and businesses from hiring new therapists for the next ten months? If 700 licenses have been given out in the last three years, then over 200 therapists will be blocked from getting their licenses over the next ten months. Imagine all the new graduates in Arcadia, fresh out of school and eager to work, finding out they can’t work in their city for the next ten months. That seems like an extreme measure to take just because they “suspect” that some people “may be” using massage as a front for prostitution. Well, let me their minds to rest: People ARE using massage as a front for prostitution, in every city across the country. They always have and they always will. Police usually turn a blind eye, until one day they pop up with something like this and punish everybody. It’s not fair. Police should investigate and decide who to target, not just lazily put a ban on all massage. This is completely unacceptable.
This is just a way for cops and city counsil members to look like they are doing something. How about doing something that will actually help the community ?