ROSWELL, Ga. — Jo Taylor, a Roswell massage therapist, returned to the podium at the City Council’s open forum Jan. 29 to caution officials against using language that puts legitimate therapists in a precarious position.
In September, Roswell police announced the arrest of three principal figures within a human trafficking network, after dozens of officers and investigators across Fulton County served search and arrest warrants at 10 locations in Roswell, Johns Creek, Sandy Springs and Atlanta.
There have been 70 arrests across 23 locations in Roswell, and the investigation is ongoing.
Since then, a 90-day moratorium has been enacted to stall the licensure process for new massage businesses entering Roswell, in effect through the beginning of March. The city also held the first reading of a new zoning ordinance that will require a conditional-use permit for new massage businesses, meaning they must be approved by the council. The second reading is scheduled for Feb. 12.
City officials have stressed that most of the massage businesses in Roswell are legitimate and should be patronized, sympathizing with them over the residual impact of the city’s police investigation.
But, massage therapists have continued to raise concerns.
Taylor highlighted that Roswell’s city charter currently places “massage spas and establishments” under Chapter 4, or “Adult Businesses and Entertainment.”
“That’s hurtful to me, really hurtful,” Taylor said. “I am not adult entertainment. I would like to see the language to be changed … I am not a massage parlor. These are businesses of prostitution. These are businesses of human trafficking.”
Referencing Georgia law, she said she would lose her license if she was involved in adult entertainment.
Mayor Kurt Wilson told Taylor the city’s priority is to eliminate illegal activity. He said…
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