Chicago Massage Parlors: AMTA-Illinois Contends Proposed City Council Ordinance Jeopardizes Livelihoods …

CHICAGO – (Business Wire) The livelihoods of more than 8,000 licensed massage therapists in Chicago and Illinois may be endangered if the Chicago City Council approves a resolution scheduled for a vote in Wednesday’s (April 14) City Council meeting.
The ordinance, presented by Ald. Ray Suarez (D-31st) bans licensed massage therapists from opening new businesses in business districts zoned B-1 and B-2.
“While the intent of this proposed ordinance to prevent indecent behavior in so-called ‘massage parlors’ is admirable, the ordinance as presently constituted does not address the issue of illicit activity,” said Tracy Smodilla, LMT, Chair, Government Relations Committee, for the American Massage Therapy Association-Illinois Chapter (AMTA-IL) www.amta-il.org.
“Instead, its effect will be to jeopardize a licensed element of Chicago’s business community that provides quality, well-paying jobs and a sought after service in almost all of Chicago’s 50 wards,” Smodilla continued. “In many cases, the services provided by massage parlors are prescribed by doctors or physicians and are necessary for individuals to live a normal life.”

See the full article from “Earthtimes (press release)”