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Berkeley Cracking Down On Phony Massage Parlors
By Bill McLaughlin
BERKELEY - The Berkeley Township Council introduced an ordinance May 8 that wished phony masseurs and masseuses a happy ending to their sex trade businesses.
The council set strict guidelines regulating licenses of massage therapy businesses in the wake of arrests last month of three workers whose business allegedly went beyond the realm of stress abatement.
Berkeley Mayor Jason Varano said the case illustrates how difficult it is to tighten up every law so that illegal acts
can't skirt the legislation.
"The issue of massage places, so-called 'happy ending' facilities, the police did a
fine job investigating," Varano said. "The owner (of the building) was trying for months to evict them. This is one (issue) we want to get resolved."
Township attorney Patrick Sheehan said the original license ordinance was over 35 years old and required a license for massages only.
"This (ordinance) is similar to what is currently on the books," Sheehan said. "Acupressure is included in this one. I'm not sure if (acupressure) is state recognized."
Last year, when the excluded businesses list for the proposed town center was listed, such parlors were explicitly forbidden in any shape or form within its borders.
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