Our regulatory enforcement guys have been hard at work recently. On request they contacted the property owners of the abused drive through bank at 4400 W. Fm 1960 regarding graffiti and excessive trash and debris. Apparently sufficient community pressure has driven the owners to address the problems and have removed the graffiti, though the homeless continue to leave debris on the premises. We will be looking at the graffiti at Breck and W. Fm 1960 next.

In a period of just six months the massage parlor business is beginning to show signs of improvement. We have completed over one hundred massage parlor inspections and filed over two hundred criminal charges. About 85% of the establishments that we inspect are unlicensed and about 80% of the “therapists” have been to no training and are likewise unlicensed. Our attention to the massage parlor problems is apparently causing a shift in their business practices. Enforcement of licensing regulations is having an affect and in an attempt to avoid being considered a “massage” establishment”, some are now moving to a “modeling studio” or  “tea room” where 30 minutes of “tea and company” costs $38.00 (after a door fee) or a fee is paid for personal “modeling”.

On our most recent visit, we took Linda Geffin, one of the lead attorneys from the Compliance Division of County Attorney Vince Ryan’s Office to see the inside operation of the illicit massage business as well as their investigators and staff. Linda is a very knowledgeable and enthusiastic attorney and we are hopeful this experience will yield some insight on using this information we have developed to provide new legal tools to cease operations at illegal massage locations. Our most recent activity is available on our website at: http://www.cd4.hctx.net/unit_regulatory_enforcement.html

Linda also was instrumental in the recent court battle against the topless club, D. B. Cooper’s Mansion on I-45. On Monday September 14^th, District Court Judge Randy Wilson issued a temporary injunction against the business. The Precinct 4 Civil Division, accompanied by Linda Geffin and their staff, went to the location and the injunction was served on the business manager. When Patrons and employees left, the business was closed and sealed.