A different perspective on the new bylaws imposed.

[higs4477]

I have followed the LE saga facing licensed MP's over the past year or so.

There have been MPA owners who have spent weeks in jail for operating a licensed spa. There have been MP owners who have faced ridiculous fines for bylaw infractions. Having to continually pay lawyers to fight the charges and attend court appearances has threatened to close several MP's.

Where was the support when one of the leading spa's was busted this year? If you ask me, all the bureaucrats had to do was continue to target Spa owners until they crumbled to financial pressures and faded away.

As far as I am concerned, many of the top MPA's run legitimate businesses. They treat both their staff and clientele fairly. They pay taxes and exorbitant licensing fees. And yet they seem be continually targetted by moralistic LE ...

Where is the justice? It is impossible for one or two establishments to take this fight on .. especially given the resources of the LE ...

In my opinion, there is something positive to come of this driver license requirement. It will do more for the industry in the long run as it has finally given the guys a reason to sit up and take note.

It's about time.

Syn

 

[Nicole M]

Maybe I am missing something. But I didn't see the guys setting up a legal fund to fight the LE until something affected them directly. No one seemed that concerned when the LE and bylaw officers went solely after owners and MPA's.

And I don't think the different spa's in Brampton, Vaughn and Toronto had a reason to work together until now.

Syn

 

[sarge927]

All this is likely to do is drive the business back underground. Thus, setting back the any gains that have been made by legitimate licenced spa owners. This will also hurt the municipalities attempts to control the industry. It could become like the "speakeasys" of the 1920s if they keep up with these facist by-laws.

 

[ChocolateJayDoll]

I think syn is right in that only collective action (I hate talking like a labour organizer) has a chance of mounting a reasonable challenge. Any such challenge would probably initially be based on the argument that the municipalities enacted the by-laws for improper purposes that are not within their limited legislative powers. These are complicated arguments and the legal costs would be high, especially since, whichever side won, the matter would end up at least in the Court of Appeal. It's unlikely that any one spa would be in a position to fund that kind of challenge, even with all the money I've donated to them. ;

Unfortunately, Paul is also right. Even if the municipalities were to lose the fight, they would try re-enacting other by-laws that would withstand legal challenges (as they did with the lap dancing crusade some years back). Eventually they would either win, or they'd get the provincial government to give them the powers they need or to enact provincial legislation. There is some truth to the theory that "you can't fight City Hall".

It is only a changed political sensibility that would end the problem. Only when the sex industry is no longer an easy target for politicians who can't think of anything more important to do will the attacks stop. Unfortunately, I don't see it hapening any time real soon (but then I didn't see Chretien loosening marijuana laws any time soon either). Until then, organize, lobby your local politicians (at least when the SO isn't around) and hand over your driver's licences.

 

[j t]

Isn't Brampton changing the bylaw on its own timing. Or is it licence renewal time

 

[armygirl]

"It is only a changed political sensibility that would end the problem. "

True, but I'm not so sure about the state of public opinion on this. I think a lot of people accept, even if they are not happy about it, that the argument is not about whether to have adult entertainment businesses in our society - but what form they'll take. If authorities are allowed to clamp down on MPs, then patronage will flow to the streets, or SCs. Fact of life. Will Mr. and Mrs. Socialconservative be happy then? I think not.

Question is, what is the best way to come to terms that are acceptable to everyone? I really think the only route to go is negotiation, backed up by a strong willingness to have a lawyer lead the fight. Any of you know a potential Clarence Darrow of the sex biz?

 

[pickin5strings]

Better/worse still, this means that those customers that require(d) privacy will have to look "underground" for service.

It is likely to be a boon for small independents who can try to remain unnoticed. It is likely to scare people off of the licensed places.

The unanticipated consequence may be that if more business moves "somewhat underground," there may well be more "full service" offerings made and taken, contrary to what those that pushed for the laws were hoping for and expecting.

It's much like criminalizing the drug trade; once it's a crime, participants might as well move onwards to harder drugs and heavier armaments, which makes things more dangerous all around.

 

[Diet C]

Agree with Syn. No one cared when the guys were getting a walk from LE. General consensus on the board seemed to slam BP when Sal had his problems last year. Hate the guy or not, he seemed to have to put with major shit from LE for operating a licensed facility. Now that everyone is getting targetted across the board, perhaps a coalition can be formed to do something to fight City Hall. The strippers did it over lap dances. What about hiring that law professor guy Hutchinson from Osgoode Hall. I think who worked on the definition of bawdy house for S & M places. He seems familiar with the sex trade and won't be as much $ as Eddie Greenspan.

Fernie

 

[rebornbethy]

i don't see how this affects my hobbying. as a hobbyist, my status hasn't changed.

 

[Tri]

Judging by the reaction on the board, others feel differently. To each thier own.

Fernie

 

[Boban]

why would the customers have to set up a legal fund for the owners and mpa's....
Most business account for such expenses as a cost of doing business...its not like this is a cheap hobby.....I always thought it was built into the price of the massage...

or maybe I am just missing something.....

Wish I could ask my customer base to donate to my legal fund......

 

[~ Dan ~]

Welcome back recruiter, nice to see you again.