News and Media Reports

[Admin]

Thread Starter

[CageySea9725]

Bloomington is considering a statute that will require 'massage spas and other adult establishments' to get a specific license, with a registration fee, and an 'investigation fee' for all massage spas and 'other' adult establishments.

I'm thinking adult bookstores, and, OH NOES! Strip Clubs! Is this a doorway to having strip clubs in Bloomington now?Bloomington Town Council heard input from, it seems mostly, spa owners. The ones who appear to be legitimate, massage-only establishment, and how unfair the proposal is to them. The Council tabled the topic without a vote.

I'm concerned now how exactly one would differentiate, how the 'legitimate' spas would be segregated from the less legitimate ones.

To me, it seems like it would be a judgement call on the City's part, and what would they base their judgement on? If the person making the application looks like they'd be legitimate? Maybe the color of their skin, their ethnicity, where they were born? All these things are discrimination for things strictly explicitly not allowed by law to be used in such decisions.

I think this is just another example of the City of Bloomington allowing what they consider their higher moral standards to overrule what the community wants, and they get that attitude from the founders of the Town of Normal. It was during my lifetime that Normal finally stopped being 'dry' because of Jesse Fell's donation of land for Illinois Normal College (later to become University, then later Illinois State University). I remember us Normalites having to drive all the way to Bloomington to buy our beer for the weekend.

Sorry for the rant. I feel better now.

[Wint33]

Here's a local bloggers take on the issue. If they can't regulate them out of existence they may try to "sting" them out of existence. Be safe out there.

https://blnnews.com/2025/06/10/bloomington-fails-people-being-trafficked/

Bloomington Fails People Being Trafficked.

By: Diane B.

Last night's meeting featured extensive public comments from licensed massage therapists, who were livid upon learning that the ordinance to combat human trafficking would also require a city license for them—adding, of course, another fee. The staff that proposed it overreached and the Council failed to immediately fix it.

They already pay the State for a license. They are required to take Human Trafficking training. They are required to pay for continuing education to keep that State license.

Already licensed massage therapists should be exempt from a City license if they have a State license. The City wants to license massage establishments instead of individuals. The new ordinance doesn't differentiate between establishments with only licensed therapists and those with zero. They want everyone buying a license.

Legitimate establishments with licensed therapists should be exempt. Our legal system doesn't require people to prove they aren't breaking the law. Investigators have to prove they are. Bloomington, just like the State of Illinois, must despise business. Tax it until it stops moving. This is weaponizing government against people doing nothing wrong.

This ordinance as written does exactly what has happened in every other city. It punishes good therapists helping to heal people while chasing traffickers out. Of course they take the people being trafficked with them.

The ordinance was tabled for two weeks so "stakeholders" could be heard. Nobody is going to hear from the victims of massage parlors. That practice will continue behind locked doors.

Just hit play to hear from a State licensed therapist who was so upset she had to stop part way through her comment. There are more speakers before and after her. At 28:30 the owner of the Olive Bin recounts how an illegal massage parlor used to be next door and what she saw. Heartbreaking.

[CageySea9725]

Here's a local bloggers take on the issue. If they can't regulate them out of existence they may try to "sting" them out of existence. Be safe out there.

https://blnnews.com/2025/06/10/bloomington-fails-people-being-trafficked/

Bloomington Fails People Being Trafficked.

By: Diane B.

Last night's meeting featured extensive public comments from licensed massage therapists, who were livid upon learning that the ordinance to combat human trafficking would also require a city license for themadding, of course, another fee. The staff that proposed it overreached and the Council failed to immediately fix it.

They already pay the State for a license. They are required to take Human Trafficking training. They are required to pay for continuing education to keep that State license.

Already licensed massage therapists should be exempt from a City license if they have a State license. The City wants to license massage establishments instead of individuals. The new ordinance doesn't differentiate between establishments with only licensed therapists and those with zero. They want everyone buying a license.

Legitimate establishments with licensed therapists should be exempt. Our legal system doesn't require people to prove they aren't breaking the law. Investigators have to prove they are. Bloomington, just like the State of Illinois, must despise business. Tax it until it stops moving. This is weaponizing government against people doing nothing wrong.

This ordinance as written does exactly what has happened in every other city. It punishes good therapists helping to heal people while chasing traffickers out. Of course they take the people being trafficked with them.

The ordinance was tabled for two weeks so "stakeholders" could be heard. Nobody is going to hear from the victims of massage parlors. That practice will continue behind locked doors.

Just hit play to hear from a State licensed therapist who was so upset she had to stop part way through her comment. There are more speakers before and after her. At 28:30 the owner of the Olive Bin recounts how an illegal massage parlor used to be next door and what she saw. Heartbreaking.Just so you know, I am against Human Trafficking, as it is commonly known as. Unfortunately, the statutes are not written with that definition. The exchange of anything of monetary value for sex is, by legal definition, human trafficking.

So if you walk up to a woman at a bar and tell her you'll buy her dinner or a drink, or giver her a breath mint if she promises to go home with you and have sex, you are, legally, a human trafficker.

[Percius917]

Just so you know, I am against Human Trafficking, as it is commonly known as. Unfortunately, the statutes are not written with that definition. The exchange of anything of monetary value for sex is, by legal definition, human trafficking.

So if you walk up to a woman at a bar and tell her you'll buy her dinner or a drink, or giver her a breath mint if she promises to go home with you and have sex, you are, legally, a human trafficker.What you are saying is total BS.

Human trafficking is legally defined as knowingly recruiting, enticing, harboring, transporting, providing, or obtaining another person, with the intent or knowledge that they will be subjected to involuntary servitude or involuntary sexual servitude of a minor. It also includes benefiting financially or by receiving something of value from participation in a venture that has engaged in involuntary servitude or involuntary sexual servitude of a minor.

https://www.dhs.state.il.us/OneNetLibrary/27897/documents/Initiatives/HumanTrafficking/Human-Trafficking-Curriculum-Guide.pdf

[CageySea9725]

What you are saying is total BS.

Human trafficking is legally defined as knowingly recruiting, enticing, harboring, transporting, providing, or obtaining another person, with the intent or knowledge that they will be subjected to involuntary servitude or involuntary sexual servitude of a minor. It also includes benefiting financially or by receiving something of value from participation in a venture that has engaged in involuntary servitude or involuntary sexual servitude of a minor.

https://www.dhs.state.il.us/OneNetLibrary/27897/documents/Initiatives/HumanTrafficking/Human-Trafficking-Curriculum-Guide.pdfhttps://www.justice.gov/humantrafficking/what-is-human-trafficking

I think the United States Justice Department trumps the curriculum guide of some education initiative.

"Human trafficking, also known as trafficking in persons, is a crime that involves compelling or coercing a person to provide labor or services, or to engage in commercial sex acts. The coercion can be subtle or overt, physical or psychological. Exploitation of a minor for commercial sex is human trafficking, regardless of whether any form of force, fraud, or coercion was used. ".

I'll simplify it for you, you know, take out all the extra phrases without changing the meaning.

"Human trafficking ... is a crime that involves compelling ... a person ... to engage in commercial sex acts. "

[Percius917]

https://www.justice.gov/humantrafficking/what-is-human-trafficking

I think the United States Justice Department trumps the curriculum guide of some education initiative.

"Human trafficking, also known as trafficking in persons, is a crime that involves compelling or coercing a person to provide labor or services, or to engage in commercial sex acts. The coercion can be subtle or overt, physical or psychological. Exploitation of a minor for commercial sex is human trafficking, regardless of whether any form of force, fraud, or coercion was used. ".

I'll simplify it for you, you know, take out all the extra phrases without changing the meaning.

"Human trafficking ... is a crime that involves compelling ... a person ... to engage in commercial sex acts. "Force, fraud, and coercion are the key ingredients for human trafficking.

When 2 consenting adults chose to trade money for sexual acts, that is prostitution.

[CageySea9725]

Force, fraud, and coercion are the key ingredients for human trafficking.

When 2 consenting adults chose to trade money for sexual acts, that is prostitution.It would seem the Justince Department would mention those other than in reference to a minor if they're actually key ingredients, rather than just mentioning compelling or coercing.

I can see them being implied in the word 'coercing'. I can't see them being ingredients in 'compelling'.

Anecdotally, I've heard some jurisdictions have started to abandon the prostitution charges in favor of strictly charging johns with human trafficking. Maybe you'll remember this conversation when it starts happening in your city, county, or state.

[Percius917]

It would seem the Justince Department would mention those other than in reference to a minor if they're actually key ingredients, rather than just mentioning compelling or coercing.

I can see them being implied in the word 'coercing'. I can't see them being ingredients in 'compelling'.

Anecdotally, I've heard some jurisdictions have started to abandon the prostitution charges in favor of strictly charging johns with human trafficking. Maybe you'll remember this conversation when it starts happening in your city, county, or state.Minors cannot consent and anyone caught knowingly trying to exchange $ for sex acts with a minor will be charged with some level of human trafficking. They deserve a lot worse punishment in my opinion.

Like I said earlier, 2 consenting adults is not human trafficking in any way.

[CageySea9725]

Minors cannot consent and anyone caught knowingly trying to exchange $ for sex acts with a minor will be charged with some level of human trafficking. They deserve a lot worse punishment in my opinion.

Like I said earlier, 2 consenting adults is not human trafficking in any way.And you have failed to even come close to addressing the point I brought up. I know why you ignored it. I don't know why you think you should continue the discussion while ignoring my point.

You making a claim is just that. You making a claim, especially when it goes against a specific, respected source that was previously cited.

Since you obviously don't have anything besides what you claim is true regardless of proof otherwise, I see no point in continuing the discussion.