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City shuts down 6 massage parlors for licensing violations

News

April 18th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say six Davenport massage businesses have been shut down because they haven’t complied with the city’s new ordinance on licensing. Police say no arrests were made Tuesday as a city enforcement team visited the establishments. Officials say complaints have been received about illegal activity occurring inside the businesses. City officials and victims’ rights groups say massage parlors are a common front for human trafficking and illegal sex work.

The ordinance approved in March says massage therapists must be licensed by the state and reflexologists — people who massage feet, ears, hands — must be licensed by the city. The enforcement team placed code violation notices on the doors of the six massage parlors.