Spas under fire in Warren (video)
Councilmen pledge to fight massage parlors in the city
January 11, 2012
By RAYMOND L. SMITH , Tribune Chronicle | TribToday.com
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WARREN - Supporters of legislation that would place stricter requirements on area massage parlors located in the city convinced five of the city's council members to sign a pledge to pass it when it goes before council on Jan. 25.
"Six of Warren's 10 massage parlors are within a 2.1-mile radius of my church, Emmanuel Lutheran," Jean Waris said. "How was this allowed to happen?"
Waris and other members of the Mahoning Valley Organizing Collaborative have been working with city officials to find ways to stop what they believe to be illegal acts happening in the massage parlors. The group held a Vote to Fight Sex Trafficking rally Tuesday night at the Trumbull County YWCA.
The council members who signed the pledge included its sponsor, Cheryl Saffold, and John Brown, Eddie Colbert, Greg Bartholomew and Jim Valesky. Mayor Doug Franklin also signed the pledge to support the legislation.
Supporters of the proposed legislation suggest its passage and enforcement will allow enforcement and city officials to control activities in the spas and eventually to work to have them closed down.
"Are you aware that Trumbull County has 12 'recreational' massage parlors, 10 of which are within the city limits of Warren?'' Isabel Seavey said.
"As far as we can tell from sex tourism websites, there are 24 massage parlors in the entire state," she said. "That means Trumbull county has half of all the spas in Ohio."
Investigators have said repeatedly in the last two years that they have found no evidence of human trafficking or prostitution at the businesses within the city. Seavey admitted that her group does not know that such activities are happening there, but said warning signs exist: They are open from 9 a.m. to 3 a.m. weekdays and 24 hours on the weekends; they do not allow women to enter; and they advertise in a sexually suggestive nature, she said.
Representatives of the massage parlor businesses did not attend the meeting nor were reached for comment afterward.
Saffold told the audience of about 60 people that three lawyers brought to the city by the Mahoning Valley Organizing Collaborative said the legislation limiting such businesses is both constitutional and will withstand any legal challenge in the courts.
"I would like to say this legislation is one of the most important this city has seen," Saffold said.
She suggested having the high number of parlors in the city creates an atmosphere that will chase away business.
"I'm embarrassed that Warren, Ohio, is known as the massage parlor capital of Ohio," she said.
Kendra Perino of Warren attended the rally. "I think their presence hurts the image of our city," she said. "I have grandchildren in the area and I worry about them and other young people.
Dorie Harris of Niles said she is pleased that Warren is joining her city in trying to close down area parlors.
"Something needs to be done," Harris said.
Warren resident Georgia Maronsis said
he does not like the direction the city has taken in recent years with the proliferation of massage parlors.
"It is hard for me to believe this is the legacy we are leaving for our children," she said.
A faith-based rally in support of the legislation is scheduled to be held at 2 p.m. Jan 22 in a parking lot across from the Sunrise Inn, near a downtown massage parlor.
"We are asking for representatives from every church in the city to attend the rally," Saffold said. "We want to send a message to the owners of these massage parlors."
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There have been a number of occasions in American history where a determined minority has trumped the will of the majority.
Think to a time when racial integration of the public schools did not exist.
This is the same concept at work here.
The same kind of people behind it too.
