Indianapolis – Inspectors found 77 code violations and issued 25 citations in a sweep of 11 massage parlors in Marion County.
It was the Department of Code Enforcement’s tenth multi-agency sweep of massage parlors in the county.
Eleven citations were issued for unlicensed massage parlors, and 14 citations were issued for unlicensed massage therapists. Other violations discovered include such things as: illegal signage, dwelling unit in a commercial district, unenclosed dumpsters, insufficient parking lot paving/striping, evidence of smoking in a place of employment, exposed wiring, electrical hazards and missing or unmounted fire extinguishers.
The multi-agency sweep was done in cooperation with the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD), Marion County Health Department (MCHD), Indianapolis Fire Department (IFD), Pike Township Fire Department, Wayne Township Fire Department, Indiana Department of Homeland Security-Division of Fire and Building Safety, Office of the City Prosecutor (OCP) and Marion County Prosecutor’s Office (MCPO).
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Massage parlors are one of the 24 business types that require a license from DCE.
See the full article from “WTHR”
77 Violations Found In ‘Massage’ Parlor Sweep
Several Agencies Involved In Handing Out Citations
POSTED: 10:51 am EST November 11, 2010
UPDATED: 1:07 pm EST November 11, 2010
INDIANAPOLIS — Seventy-seven violations were found in a Wednesday sweep of 11 “massage” parlors operating in Marion County, officials said Thursday.
The multi-agency sweep involved the Department of Code Enforcement, several fire departments, the Department of Homeland Security, the Indianapolis Metro Police Department and other agencies.
Eleven citations were issued for unlicensed businesses, and 14 citations were handed out for unlicensed massage therapists, said Kate Johnson, public information officer for the Department of Code Enforcement.
Unlicensed massage parlors are often havens for prostitution and other illegal activity, but there were no sex-related arrests in Wednesday’s sweep.
“Sweeps like these are an important part of our efforts to improve the quality of life for every Indianapolis resident,” said Mayor Greg Ballard, in a news release.
See the full article from “WRTV Indianapolis”
Proposed fee irks Indy small businesses
Updated: Tuesday, 25 May 2010, 10:54 PM EDTPublished : Tuesday, 25 May 2010, 10:51 PM EDT
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) – The City County Council will take up a measure at its next meeting to increase business licensing fees.
During a meeting of the Rules and Public Policy Committee Tuesday night, Rick Powers, the Director of the Department of Code Enforcement (DCE), shared a Power Point presentation that outlined the reasons his department is asking for a fee increase.
Under the proposal, a total of 27 businesses will be affected. The businesses include everything from massage parlors, to taxi cab companies, to kennels.
Powers says the current business license fee schedule is antiquated. In some cases, fees have not been increased for decades and the current income generated from the fees does not cover the department’s operating costs.
See the full article from “WISH”
Person Found Dead In Indiana University Dorm (Bloomington) – Police in Bloomington are investigating the death of a person found in a dorm room. Indiana University spokesman Larry MacIntyre says residence hall advisors were overcome with chemical fumes after forcing their way into a room yesterday afternoon. The person was found dead inside of the room. Authorities are investigating the possibility that the chemicals were related to a suicide.
One Arrested For Alleged Murder Of Jewelry Store Owner (Indianapolis) – Police in Indianapolis have made an arrest in connection to the murder of a Fountain Square businessman. IMPD Detective Brian Lemond says Michael Inman is under arrest for the killing of Pedigo Jewelers owner David Pedigo on Friday. Lemond says Inman also faces charges for a violent burglary at an adult novelty store. He says Inman has a lengthy criminal past.
Indianapolis Police Cracking Down On Massage Parlors
(Indianapolis) – The city of Indianapolis is continuing to crack down on massage parlors.
See the full article from “WTVW”
Indianapolis Police Cracking Down On Massage Parlors
The city of Indianapolis is continuing to crack down on massage parlors. Indianapolis police joined code enforcement officers and local health officials in raids on more than a dozen parlors on Monday.
Indianapolis Code Enforcement spokeswoman Katie Bannon says no arrests were made, but dozens of violations were issued. Bannon says officials found evidence that women were living in five of the raided parlors.
IMPD Lieutenant Jeff Duhamell says women are often trafficked around the country to work in illegitimate massage parlors.
Last Updated: Wednesday, April 14, 2010 6:25:24 AM
See the full article from “NewsTalk 1010 WCSI”
Aldermen endorse restriction on massage parlors
Worried about prostitution, council members back ban on massage businesses in areas that are mostly residential
Chicago aldermen worried about prostitution rings masquerading as massage parlors endorsed a measure Monday to ban massage businesses in areas that are mostly residential.
The ordinance approved by the City Council Zoning Committee would ban massage parlors in confined business districts that essentially serve just the surrounding neighborhood. They would be allowed in areas with more commercial development.
The action amends a previously proposed ordinance that would have enacted a broader ban and was opposed by therapeutic massage therapists who said it would damage their ability to do business. The newer measure, unlike the previous one, was endorsed by Mayor Richard Daley’s administration. It is scheduled to go before the full council Wednesday.
See the full article from “Chicago Tribune”
Officers raid 13 Indy massage parlors
Updated: Monday, 12 Apr 2010, 11:08 PM EDTPublished : Monday, 12 Apr 2010, 9:48 PM EDT
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) – Indianapolis police, firefighters, code enforcement and the health department raided 13 parlors Monday morning looking for illegal activity and other violations. Scroll below the story to see a list of the massage parlors targeted by the raids. Authorities didn’t make any arrests in Monday’s sweep, but they did issue 73 violations.
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Police said many times the women who work at the massage parlors are forced to offer sex for money.
“The women who work in these illegitimate massage parlors are human trafficked into the country,” Bannon said.
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Code enforcement also said most of the raided massage parlors and its workers are not licensed to practice in the state. The massage parlors raided include:
See the full article from “WISH”
AT CITY HALL THIS MORNING, ACTION ON MASSAGE PARLORS
AT CITY HALL THIS MORNING, ACTION ON MASSAGE PARLORS.
Bill Cameron, WLS News, ReportingApril 12, 2010
CITY HALL IS BACKPEDDLING A BIT ON A RECENT CRACKDOWN ON MASSAGE PARLORS.
MESSAGE THERAPIST JASON BORECKI TOLD THE ALDERMEN IN THE CITY COUNCIL ZONING COMMITTEE THAT THE PROSTITUTION IN THE ILLICIT MASSAGE PARLORS SHOULD NOT PUNISH HIM.
HE SAID, “WE DON’T FRONT STRANGE, WIERD SERVICES TO PEOPLE. IT’S LIKE THEY COME TO US AND SAY WE HAVE A HEADACHE, AND I SAY, “YA KNOW, I THINK I CAN HELP YA OUT.”
AND SO THE ALDERMEN VOTED TO ALLOW MASSAGE THERAPY IN CERTAIN RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS..
See the full article from “WLS”
The Panties Pool You’ve seen those office pools they do for football games, right? It’s a grid of boxes, with 0-9 going down and 0-9 going across. Then people write their names inside the boxes and then one set of numbers is for one team, and one is for the other. So, say, at the end of the first quarter, the score is 10 – 7, the Saints, then you would go to that square, and that person would win. You can do the same. But instead of putting in names in the squares, you put SEX ACTS. So, whoever wins, REALLY wins. And it’s up to you to be as nice or as naughty as you want.
You can have the prizes be anything your little heart desires. From kissing to an erotic massage, he owes you oral sex. From you wearing THAT school girl outfit, to him doing THAT dance he does naked. (Um, whatever you two do…)
See the full article from “Huffington Post (blog)”
Increased licensing fees would cost more than $1,000 more a year for Yellow Rose Carriage, a company that manager Peggy Best said has been restricted to eight licenses a year for the past 26 years.
“It hurts at a time when this is a discretionary income business,” Best said. “People are already hurting, and carriage rides are the first thing to go.”
The city began meetings with the business community about the proposed increases and the city’s desire that businesses shoulder the true cost of regulation.
“We understand the budget pressures the city is going under. This is simply not the time, at least from most people we’ve heard, that they should go into effect,” said Joel Reuter, of the Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce.
Indianapolis licenses 27 different businesses, including massage parlors, escort services and adult entertainment — such as Lenny’s Gentlemen’s Club, where fees will increase 600 percent annually, from $75 to $575.
See the full article from “INDYchannel.com”