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StumbleHenderson postpones vote on toughening law on massage parlors
Number of licenses would increase because more would need them
Published Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2009 | 2 a.m.
Updated Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2009 | 9:05 p.m.
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The Henderson City Council on Tuesday postponed action on a proposed ordinance clamping down on massage parlors. Without comment, the vote was moved to early next year, probably in January or February.
The ordinance is an effort to combat illegal activities in massage parlors and “reflexology” establishments, which are supposed to offer a type of “pressure point” massage to the hands and feet.
Both types of establishments throughout the valley have often served as fronts for prostitution. Henderson would like to at least try to put a stop to that.
The ordinance — aiming to be “responsive to community concerns” — would restrict the hours the parlors may operate to 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. It also would forbid the use of tinted glass on the establishments’ exterior windows, and mandate that the front and back doors remain unlocked during business hours. The ordinance would also prohibit “false or deceptive advertising” about the businesses.
The changes would mean massage businesses in Henderson would be more tightly regulated than those in Las Vegas and unincorporated Clark County.
“As a youth advocate, this is something I don’t want in Henderson or anywhere else,” said Henderson Councilwoman Kathleen Boutin, who co-founded the Nevada Partnership for Homeless Youth. “I’m in complete support of these changes. They’re a step in the right direction.”
Boutin noted that massage parlors in the region have sometimes been used as transit points for human traffickers, who force underage girls from Asia into working at the establishments to pay off large debts for bringing them into the country illegally.
According to Henderson Planning Manager Michael Tassi, the issue was raised by city staff members who discovered that several license applicants had fraudulently applied for licenses to make reflexology their “primary” business and massage their “ancillary” business — when in actuality the businesses would mostly or solely function as massage parlors.
Concerns also were lodged by community policing groups, Henderson officials said, especially regarding the tinted glass that makes it possible for those inside the businesses to see if police are outside, but impossible for police to see in.
There are currently 18 licensed massage establishments in Henderson, said Margaret Glad, the city’s supervising business license technician. Reflexology isn’t a separate business license category, but that would change under the ordinance, as would the fee structures for both types of businesses.
Glad estimated that if the ordinance passes, Henderson will license about 50 massage establishments. The number would rise because licenses would be necessary for massage therapists who work for other types of businesses, such as salons.
The measure is explicit about the city’s distaste for anything that hints at even the possibility of prostitution inside the parlors.
Under the measure, employees must wear nontransparent outer garments that “fully cover from a point, not to exceed four inches above the center of the kneecap to the base of the neck, excluding the arms.” If that’s not clear enough, another portion of the ordinance mandates that massage parlor owners and employees wear clothes “of a fully opaque material and provide complete coverage of the genitals, genital area, buttocks and breasts.”
The measure also seeks to ensure that privacy in such establishments is maintained — to a degree. There cannot be any tinted or two-way mirrors inside the massage rooms, according to the ordinance, nor any audio or video recording devices.
Hallways and massage rooms must remain unlocked and cannot even be capable of being locked.
The second ordinance the council will weigh tonight would amend a law regarding where sexually oriented businesses such as nightclubs or bookstores may locate. The most significant revision appears to be a detailed description of what constitutes an escort service.
In the end, Boutin said of the massage proposal, common sense should prevail. For example, if people are using massage and reflexology establishments as claimed, then they don’t need to regularly use them after hours.
“I can’t imagine why someone would need a foot massage at 2 a.m.,” she said.
Sun reporter Erin Dostal contributed to this report.
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would the city of henderson be any less desirable of a place to live and raise a family if all of these places were closed down???
hell no...
regulate the hell out of them...
while the police are not busy killing citizens, have them conduct multiple sting operations...
close the damn places down...
We sell a lot of games in Henderson. Something good is going on there!
And then there is the house-call contingent. How can they contain that?
Good for Boutin. She is the only one willing to address the issue. Let's be honest. No one wants these massage parlors in their neighborhood. Put them out of business. A legitimate therapist or masseuse isn't open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Everyone knows they are a front for prostitution and law enforcement is neglect for not doing anything about them. Maybe this will put the practice to an end.
Who the hell are these councilmen. What happened to our rights under the constitution. To demand that they wear uniforms, not to be able to lock the door of a massage room or the doors to the establishment. Big Brother is here.
If I am getting a massage and I have my valuables with me, my watch, ring, heck I am laying down and in my skivvies, I want that door locked, Otherwise I have no protection at all if some one decides to rob the place or privacy when I am changing my clothes.
What about the right to the person who works the late shift and doesn't get off work till 11PM. They are on their feet at casino for example. I don't know how Boutin got elected to be the head of the spanish inquisition of Henderson.
It appears to me that none of the city counsel has gotten a massage in one of these clinics. He who has no sin, shall cast the first stone.
I only hope that the council uses better judgement and doesn't make the massage parlors a target for gang robberies and not permit them to lock their doors.
Nc concerned cit- they have lockers at spas and have you looked at your spell check function? I thinj its broken.
what,no happy endings out in hooterville
Man, the Mormons, Baptists and Jehovah's Witnesses have taken over City Hall. The same clique of City brothers and sisters who allowed builders to ruin our economy with out of control growth policies is now attempting to control human behavior.
Look, after our local cops have had a hard evening entrapping and snaring speeders, don't you think they'd like to have a relaxing back rub at a local establishment set up for that very purpose, especially if they dozed off in the Tahoe, and woke up stiff-and sore? No, that's right, police officers take a pledge of marital fidelity when they join the force. Right?
Sure, Officer Luke Morrison had to quit after his shooting and child-luring escapade, but don't you think a nice all-over massage after work might have helped him to relax, and not overreact to the 5' threat? What's next, closing balconies in movie theaters to stop teenagers from having sex?
Oh yes, those are objectionable so lets shut them down! Also, lets remove all the objectionable books from the library and the schools (especially those that deal with science and philosophy, as well as s..e..x). And lets shut down stores that sell real fur. Oh, and lets then shut down WalMart and Sams Club. And, of course, all private and charter schools, my union mom finds those totally objectionable. And my Hindu neighbors, they are certainly objectionable so lets pass ordinances to get rid of them too (or at least require them to live more than 1,000' from a school or library and to not let the girls paint dots on their foreheads).
I say we stand up for what is right, what is normal, and what is pure and get rid of everyone and everything that is not exactly like us! Now, city council, now!
Birdie, ever the authoritarian. He won't rest until everyone thinks like him, acts like him, conforms like him.
be careful how you clampdown, you need the tax!!!!
I'm usually a BIG Kathleen Boutin fan, but I disagree with her and the other council members here. NVConcerned is right about the possible invasion of privacy violations that may occur if this ordinance passes and police are allowed to barge in while I'm undressed. Ewwww!
I appreciate living in the "Place to Call Home", but let's be honest. Our town's pretty darned boring, one of the reasons why Henderson is consistently listed as one of "The Most Boring Cities in America" is that our town won't allow any type of fun. So now they don't just want to kick all the fun out of town, but they won't even let us get massages when we want?
Unless the Henderson Council really wants to lose more business (and more tax revenue!), they should reconsider these draconian restrictions on massage parlors.
Las Vegas is a 24/7 town. Henderson is the neighbor to Las Vegas. Many people who work in Las Vegas may live in Henderson. The odd shifts need establishments that work on their time frame and not the normal 9 to 5. Have unscheduled visits by the city council to ensure that "happy ending" visits aren't happening. Ms. Boutin can be the lead investigator.
Legalize Prostitution and be done with it. Those establishments don't hurt you. The only problem I have with them is the potential for human trafficking. Regulate prostitution and that goes away. Stop trying to push your morals on everyone else. It's ridiculous and unAmerican.
Comment removed by moderator. Contained an advertisement.
Where do people find the money to pay for this?
It's pathetic.
When will the Johns realise that you can't buy love?
You can however buy your way into aids and a whole lot of trouble.
If you want to live a sainted life, go back to Utah. Jesus, the bible thumpers want to go back to the Blue Law days, when Eisenhower was president.
My favorite Blue Law comes from Massachusetts: "Taxi drivers are prohibited from making love in the front seat of their taxi during their shifts".
Looks like Henderson wants its own version of Blue Laws. And just as foolish. You can see where we're headed-down Lawsuit Lane, where the City goofs will waste our money losing a first amendment battle. Oh, and "Leave the doors unlocked!" The first time an Asian woman is attacked, the city will be sued big-time.
Don't we have a City Attorney? No, not the one that quit last April. A real one?
WHAT ABOUT THE "SWINGERS" BUSINESS CLUBS...?
Where you can "medically observe" all forms of "intensive theatrical" performances between complete and total strangers for a $50 admission fee......?
(Those didn't make it onto the agenda...?)
Boutin is on the right track.
These places are fronts for sex. And nothing else.
They are right next to legitimate businesses, and have blacked out windows.
The only thing missing is these joints selling penicillin and antibiotics under the counter to the "clients".
Human Trafficing is a crime which should be punishable by death. By all means, concentrate your limited enforcement resources to the noble pursuit.
However, those who find happy endings objectionable will only succeed in pushing an enjoyable and chosen behavior a little (very little) further underground.
Happy in Henderson
Come on guys you all know these asian parlors are a front for prostitution. I own a retail store in Henderson and have two establishments like this right next to my store. One on each corner and it does not bring anything good to either of the shopping centers.
Legitimate massage parlors would have no problem with these regulations. Legitimate parlors cant even find prime retail locations that adhere to the stiff zoning regulations imposed by city of Henderson. City of Henderson puts all massage parlors in the same class whether it be a national chain as Massage Envy or a so called asian parlor. This will clean out the rif-raf and help legitimate massage businesses thrive. These proposed ordinances may even help loosen zoning regulations for massage parlors, which would be great for real massage businesses
Im all for peoples rights as a rub and tug does not hurt anyone but it does not need to be in a retail shopping center near schools.
Why is it so hard to ban these places?
Other cities, outside Nevada, have no problem banning massage parlors.
BringtheRain, that is not true. Every large city has these places... you may not notice them, but they are there.
Doc, I can assure you that there isn't one in the Portland metro area. Not a one.
Had a school buddy that operated one of these parlors out of a trailer along the interstate which serviced passing truck drivers -- huge billboard sign, flashing lights, open 24-hours, etc.
He never a problem with the law getting tough even with their headquarters located a mere quarter-mile down the road from him.
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Support your local spank & yank!!!!!!!!!!!!!
OK, now.....You want happy ending?
Dang it!!! I keep going there at 1 am and trying to get "reflexology"
but they just keep saying....OK, now you want happy ending?
What are they talking about? Can anyone shed light on this confusing matter?
legislating morality is a republican concept that never works; massage parlors provide a service that doesnt appear to be 'petering' out, and im sure the chamber of commerce is happy with their annual contribution. leave free enterprise alone and it will flourish!
BringtheRain,
I seriously doubt that you can bet your life on their not being one single massage parlor of any kind in Portland. It is not possible.
Uh, who really cares? I'd rather people be doing this behind closed doors in the PRIVACY of their own home or business, instead of out on the streets. Tax it, regulate it, everyone benefits.
I'll admit to having gone into some of these places and heres my take: First, I've NEVER seen a girl in there that was underage, NEVER. Second, I've seen some of the girls leave these places after thier shift and get in thier BMWs and Lexus cars (so I doubt they were victims of human trafficing), and third the only reason these places exsit is because THERE IS A DEMAND FOR THEM! If there weren't, they would go out of business. And no I didnt go in there looking to "but love"; I went in to relax, and you know what, it works!
# I know of In the Portland Metro area. One is on the 99 just North of the 1-5 near Tigard and at least 2 near Chinatown, I think it is just off Burnside. You are wrong BringtheRain.
I have seen far more legitimate, liecenced, non blacked out non asian themed places up there. But don't fool yourself. Where there is a demand there will be places offering the services.
I have also been to a couple Watsu massage places where the practitioner gets in a body temp pool with you and massages and stretches the body. I would assume under these laws due to the dress code this very legitimate non sexual method would now be illegal. That is a shame because it is one of the few ways my shoulders can be worked on without a great deal of pain.
I agree with a couple posters above, just get over it, legalize it, tax it. It makes no sense to regulate morality.
<Note my Folks live in Tigard I drive by the one on the 99 every time I visit them>
JSin
How dare they tell me I can't lock my door while I'm gettin layed!!
A local STIMULUS.
The Nevada Board of Massage Therapy requires professional massage therapists who work in hotel spas to have Nevada state licenses. This same board does not require those who "provide massage services" in store front parlors to be licensed under the same standards. All that the City of Henderson need do is enforce the state law mandating that all massage therapists have state licenses. If so, then the prostitutes who we all know are the primary reason these store front parlors exist, would either have to go to school for eight months, or go elsewhere to provide "Happy endings."
Although I agree with the "legalize it and be done with it" attitude, I would like to add my 2 cents (ok, more like 3 cents):
1. There ARE places in Henderson where the shift never ends. The girls actually live in the establishment! (Um, sounds like human trafficking to me!)
3. It sounds like you can still get a massage. You can still protect your privacy and belongings. You won't have police barge in on you half naked unless you are in a rub-n-tug type of place. It does require all massage therapists to have a state license. It's just to tighten up the not-so-legitimate businesses and the loopholes that allow these types of places" Has anyone here commenting even read the code?
4. That pool massage thing isn't illegal. I am assuming that you don't have to be naked when you get that done. I am also assuming that the massager doesn't have to be naked either"Bikini anyone?
What it comes down to is this: Are we discussing the ability to get a massage? No. It's all about the tug. If you have hands, do it yourself. At least you know where they've been. If you need a visual, I know a place on Boulder that has some excellent videos.
The Henderson City Council on Tuesday postponed action on a proposed ordinance clamping down on massage parlors. Without comment, the vote was moved to early next year, probably in January or February.
Underground news flash:
Amazingly all members of the City Council recently received coupons for a free massage at a local establishment. Suddenly the vote was postponed. Pee Wee Herman wants to know why.
I live in Henderson and have three massage parlors within easy walking distance of my house. I walk or ride my bike a lot and have never seen any police response to these places or heard any noise or commotion coming from behind the blacked out windows. I could care less what goes on there between consenting adults (the possibility of human trafficking is troubling and should be investigated when warranted.) As long as they pay their taxes, which the city of Henderson needs badly, i don't give a rat's rear if full blown orgies are taking place. Three cheers for stress reduction and the celebration of freedom.
America as a whole has never been able to come to terms with people having sex. For all Oh you can't execute people that commit murder it's inhumane, You can't spank your children at all it's child abuse, It's o.k. to say "F--k on t.v. it's o.k. to abort a child. you would think we could allow sex paid for or not. But oh no we can't have that no no no!!!!!! Get a life and join the rest of the world.
If our governement spent as much time on really important stuff as they do on this nonsense then maybe, just maybe something would get done.
Maybe one day the voters in Hendertucky will pull thier heads out of thier butts and and get rid of the idiots sitting on the Council. What are they going to clamp down on next? If you don't want a "massage" then just stay away from the place,lookout tobbaco shops you're next. The Mormons are off and runnin.
This puts the 'poor' city council in a tough spot, like between a rock and a 'hard' place. They insist on coming across as moral and upstanding (!). If they don't, poof! there goes support. But they can't really pounce on their slightly heinous tricks and treats for gobs of reasons, all human and hard-wired, so to speak.
TAA DAAA. Compromise. Did it require an open assessment of the societal impact of regulating a service that is flourishing in spite of illegality and because of nature? Of course not.
Does this denial strategy seem to be working well in the war on drugs that lots of us like?
Lets get serious for a moment,, we don't need city councils,, we don't need all these elected individuals that are living high on the hog as they feed off the body politic. 200 yrs. ago they might of had some use,, like burning witches and such. We now live in the day of computers and telephones. It would be very easy for the people to vote on anything. We put men on the moon but we still have city councils with their buggy whips deciding what's best for us. Lets talk about something serious like these cops salaries and retirements, all paid with our tax dollars. If 401k is good for the rest of us then its good for them. Thats the first thing we can vote on right there.
If you pay for sex,it;s illegal.
If you get a divorce your spouse get at least half.
If your a carpenter,cop,fireman,babysitter,you get compensated for yourtime and efforts.
If that happens to be providing comfort that includes sex,one of life's basic and strongest and natural need's,YOUR GOING TO JAIL.
massage etc business's bring peace and calm to society.
I guess some people are afraid of a little compitition in the bedroom.Maybe they should pay attention to their own bedroom bedroom and get out of everyone else.
they are doing a darn good service to the patron's and society as a whole