Mayor says new massage law kneads work

Jennifer Kho

COSTA MESA -- The City Council had just finished giving its

preliminary OK to a new massage ordinance when Mayor Libby Cowan decided

she’d like to massage it some more.

Cowan wants to change the ordinance to allay fears from legitimate

massage therapists, who say the new law would hurt their businesses.

“I’ve asked [city staff] to work with legitimate massage groups and a

couple of chiropractors to review the ordinance and return with another

ordinance at some point,” she said Monday. “I believe there are other

ways to protect our residents from non-legitimate massage than to have a

single lightbulb and door ordinance.”

The previous ordinance, passed two years ago in an attempt to

eliminate prostitution houses fronting as massage parlors, requires

masseuses to go through a rigorous licensing process to practice in the

city.

But it had a loophole: Employees for state-licensed practitioners,

including acupuncturists and chiropractors, did not have to get a city

license. Police said they have received numerous complaints -- verified

by undercover investigations -- about prostitution in those businesses

too.

The new ordinance, unanimously approved Jan. 15 and scheduled for its

final approval Feb. 5, would expand the licensing process to include

employees practicing massage for state-licensed practitioners, including

acupuncturists and chiropractors.

It would also increase the number of training hours masseuses need to

get licensed and would require brighter lighting and allow only partial,

hinged doors or curtains -- not regular doors -- to massage rooms.

Legitimate massage therapists said they are happy to have a chance to

change the door and lighting requirements in the newly approved

ordinance.

“I’m happy they are” reconsidering, said Pat Edwards, owner of Kneaded

Touch, a city-licensed massage business. “I totally support the rest of

the ordinance. The testing and the training hours are important. I

understand what the Police Department is doing -- trying to get

prostitution out of Costa Mesa -- and I fully appreciate that. But I

think if they concentrated on getting everyone licensed, I think it will

solve all other problems.”

A number of legitimate massage therapists said those requirements

could rub customers the wrong way.

“I’ve talked to my regular clients and they are not comfortable with

the idea of no real door,” Edwards said. “I think it could cause problems

with my business, especially the way my business is set up with the front

door right in front of the [massage room] door. With a massage, the

atmosphere is really important because you’re trying to relax. I can put

an eye mask on my customers to block out the light, but my regular

customers are appalled at the idea that anyone could look in at them when

they’re vulnerable, lying on the table.”

Paul Dondero, a Costa Mesa vice and narcotics detective, said police

have not found prostitution at any of the 20 city-licensed massage

businesses.

But he said customers in a dimly lit room with a locked door could be

more likely to feel they have an opportunity for illegal sex.

“We have problems with some illegitimate businesses casting a bad

light on the good folks we have,” Dondero said. “Unfortunately, we have

to have an ordinance that addressed all of our concerns. There is a

reduced opportunity or propensity for illegitimate activity to happen if

the person in the room doesn’t feel as secure with maybe getting away

with something. I understand the concerns of legitimate establishments,

but that’s just the way we have these ordinances.”

Councilwoman Linda Dixon said she believes there is reason to

reconsider the ordinance.

“I think there is merit to [Cowan’s] concerns because I think

therapeutic massage is extremely beneficial and you do need the right

environment to make people comfortable and relaxed,” she said. “I think

that should be addressed for legitimate licensed masseuses.”