Today’s the day (Monday, April 12) that the Zoning Committee in Chicago is voting on an ordinance to require that massage establishments only be allowed in areas that are zoned B-3, which means limited to industrial use, heavy commercial use, and taverns.
This amendment was introduced by Alderman Ray Suarez, who feels that by prohibiting massage therapists from operating in retail areas and neighborhoods, that he is somehow fighting prostitution. His heart may be in the right place, but this misguided notion will not accomplish anything except to penalize legitimate massage therapists.
The Zoning Committee meets this morning at 10:30 am, Chicago City Hall, Room 201-A, LaSalle St, and every massage therapist in town needs to be there! April 14, this will go for a full vote. If you can’t attend the meeting in person, call your alderman.
If this ordinance passes, you may find yourself in the position of being forced to move your massage practice to some seedy area you’d rather not be in. Don’t be silent about this.
Peace & Prosperity,
Laura Allen
April 16th, 2010 at 6:49 am
Laura
Thank you for being such an activist. Please inform Karen Menehan on the result. We need to be covering this.
Stanford Eickson
Editorial Director
Massage Magazine