After nearly two years of public meetings, forums and rallies, Warren City Council on Wednesday voted unanimously to establish new laws for massage parlor establishments to do business inside the city.
The crowd cheered after the legislation was passed to regulate the 10 massage parlors operating within city limits.
"That's more than any city in the entire state of Ohio," said 6th Ward Councilwoman Cheryl Saffold.
Saffold has made this her personal crusade, but every member of council put their name on the ordinance and voted for passage.
"The idea is to get a handle on not only the clientele, but the folks who actually are performing what may be illegal services," said Council President Bob Dean.
The Mahoning Valley Organizing Collaborative has taken up the cause as part of its agenda, even forming an offshoot committee to specifically deal with human trafficking, which the organization alleges is taking place inside the parlors.
Allegations of prostitution, human trafficking and drug use at the massage parlors are magnified by internet reviews of the establishments and advertisements on billboards and newspapers in Cleveland.
The ordinance hikes the licensing fee from around $600 to $1,800 and requires the owners pay a $640 permit fee per employee. Employees also must be licensed masseurs.
"Which will require the employees to get at least 100 hours of formalized training from an accredited school of massage therapy," Saffold said.
Many residents came forward to thank council. Others said they're in favor of the ordinance, but it's not enough.
"The truth of the matter is the only reason that stuff happens is because we make it illegal, and then the seediest, shadiest people in the world run those businesses," said Warren resident Ken MacPherson.
Still others said there's no evidence of anything illegal happening at the parlors.
"We've got all these bars, and we got all this prostitution on Fourth Street, Third Street, Porter Street, Scott Street, and they're more concerned about a place that pays taxes, and they're driving businesses out, mainly I think it's because of fear," said Howland resident Henry Malone.
It's now up to Warren police and the city health department to enforce the laws outlined in the ordinance.
