Leaders looking to take action to root crime out of metro massage parlors - KOCO Oklahoma City

[Alyse Jones]

A COMMUNITY CONVERSATION. HE HAS PLANNED. SO THIS IS NOT ABOUT BLAMING VICTIMS. THIS IS ABOUT SHINING A LIGHT BEYOND A FLICKERING, A FLICKERING NEON LIGHT THAT JUST SAYS MASSAGE AND OPEN 24 OVER SEVEN. AFTER MULTIPLE BUSTS AND ARRESTS AT MASSAGE PARLORS ACROSS THE METRO, ONE CITY SAYS ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. WITHIN THE CITY OF EDMOND, THERE’S WELL OVER A DOZEN AND MULTIPLE. AND IF THERE’S PRESSURE PLACED ON THEM FROM AN ENFORCEMENT STANDPOINT, WHAT THEY TEND TO DO IS JUST PACK UP AND LEAVE AND GO. EDMOND CITY COUNCIL MEMBER TOM ROBBINS SAYS HE WANTS TO SEE MORE REGULATIONS. WE WANT A LONG TERM SOLUTION THAT WORKS FOR OUR CITY AND HAVE THE TOOLS AND RESOURCES WE NEED TO ADDRESS THIS HUMAN TRAFFICKING PROBLEM. WHAT WE’RE ASKING FOR, WHAT I’M ASKING FOR AS A CITY COUNCILOR, IS THE ABILITY OR THE TOOLS OR RESOURCES JUST TO BE ABLE TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE THAT ARE PRACTICING HAVE A LICENSE AND THAT THERE’S JUST BASIC THINGS IN REGARDS TO HOURS OF OPERATION, LIGHTING, SAFETY, PARKING, SIGNAGE, THOSE TYPES OF THINGS. RIGHT NOW, ROBBINS SAYS, STATE LAW DOESN’T REQUIRE A MASSAGE LICENSE BE PUBLICLY POSTED. HE THINKS THAT SHOULD CHANGE TO PROTECT THOSE GETTING MASSAGES AND THE EMPLOYEES AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE DON’T WANT PEOPLE TO BE TRAFFICKED. WE DON’T WANT PEOPLE TO BE PUT IN DANGER. WE DON’T WANT UNLICENSED, UNSEEMLY ACTIVITY HAPPENING WITHIN OUR CITY. AND WE SHOULD HAVE A VOICE AND A SAY. AND WE’RE WORKING TOWARDS THAT, ROBBINS SAYS. EDMOND CHIEF OF POLICE, THE COUNTY SHERIFF, LAWMAKERS, OFFICIALS FROM THE BUREAU OF NARCOTICS AND ATTORNEY GENERAL’S OFFICE WILL ALL BE AT THE COMMUNITY MEETING. THEY SAY THE PUBLIC IS WELCOME TO COME HAVE THEIR QUESTIONS ANSWERED. IT WILL BE AT EDMOND CITY HALL ON SEPTEMB




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Leaders looking to take action to root crime out of metro massage parlors


Officials across the metro said it’s time to take action on rooting out crime out of massage parlors that dot the Oklahoma City metro.

Officials said it’s time to take action on rooting out crime out of massage parlors that dot the Oklahoma City metro.Get the latest news stories of interest by clicking here.“This is not about blaming victims. This is about shining a light beyond a flickering neon light that just says ‘massage open 24/7,’” said Edmond City Councilmember Tom Robins.After multiple busts and arrests at massage parlors across the metro, one city said enough is enough.“Within the city of Edmond, there’s well over a dozen, multiple, and if there’s pressure placed on them from an enforcement standpoint, what they tend to do is just pack up and leave,” Robins said.Robins said he wants to see more regulations.“We want a long-term solution that works for our city and to have the tools and resources we need to address this human trafficking problem,” he said. “What we’re asking for, what I’m asking for as a city councilor is the ability, the tools or resources just to be able to make sure that those who are practicing have a license and that there’s basic things in terms of hours of operation, lighting, safety, parking, signage, those types of things.” >> Download the KOCO 5 AppRight now, Robins said state law doesn’t require a massage license to be publicly posted, and he thinks that should change to protect those getting massages and the employees at the massage parlors.“At the end of the day, we don’t want people to be trafficked, we don’t want people to be put in danger, we don’t want unlicensed, unsafe activity happening within our city, and we should have a voice and a say, and we’re working toward that,” Robins said.Robins said Edmond’s police chief, the Oklahoma County sheriff, lawmakers, officials from the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs and officials from the Oklahoma Attorney General’s Office will be at the community meeting.The public is welcome to attend and have their questions answered. The meeting will be held at Edmond City Hall on Sept. 30 at 7 p.m.Top HeadlinesTIMELINE: Storms with risk of 60 mph winds, hail possible Thursday afternoon and eveningAuthorities search for at least 4 armed suspects after dispensary robbery in Pottawatomie CountyCoffee could be more than a morning pick-me-up, according to new researchWreck involving overturned SUV cause traffic on Lake Hefner Parkway in northwest OKC‘I was able to slide right through’: Deputy climbs into moving truck to save driver suffering medical emergency

EDMOND, Okla. —

Officials said it’s time to take action on rooting out crime out of massage parlors that dot the Oklahoma City metro.

Get the latest news stories of interest by clicking here.

“This is not about blaming victims. This is about shining a light beyond a flickering neon light that just says ‘massage open 24/7,’” said Edmond City Councilmember Tom Robins.

After multiple busts and arrests at massage parlors across the metro, one city said enough is enough.

“Within the city of Edmond, there’s well over a dozen, multiple, and if there’s pressure placed on them from an enforcement standpoint, what they tend to do is just pack up and leave,” Robins said.

Robins said he wants to see more regulations.

“We want a long-term solution that works for our city and to have the tools and resources we need to address this human trafficking problem,” he said. “What we’re asking for, what I’m asking for as a city councilor is the ability, the tools or resources just to be able to make sure that those who are practicing have a license and that there’s basic things in terms of hours of operation, lighting, safety, parking, signage, those types of things.”

>> Download the KOCO 5 App

Right now, Robins said state law doesn’t require a massage license to be publicly posted, and he thinks that should change to protect those getting massages and the employees at the massage parlors.

“At the end of the day, we don’t want people to be trafficked, we don’t want people to be put in danger, we don’t want unlicensed, unsafe activity happening within our city, and we should have a voice and a say, and we’re working toward that,” Robins said.

Robins said Edmond’s police chief, the Oklahoma County sheriff, lawmakers, officials from the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs and officials from the Oklahoma Attorney General’s Office will be at the community meeting.

The public is welcome to attend and have their questions answered. The meeting will be held at Edmond City Hall on Sept. 30 at 7 p.m.

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