Amarillo City Council discussing rescinded promotions, changes to massage ordiance - abc7amarillo.com

[massage]

AMARILLO, Texas (KVII) — Licensed massage therapists are expected to pack Amarillo City Hall on Tuesday to express their concerns with a massage establishment ordinance.

The council started getting feedback from licensed massage therapists after ABC 7 reported about the ordinance on Feb. 15.

LMT's said parts of the ordinance would make it impossible for them to do business.

They're also upset the city is adding requirements on top of what the state already requires.

Mayor Cole Stanley told ABC 7 the city council is concerned about the large number of massage establishments popping up in Amarillo and the threat that creates for prostitution and human trafficking.

"There are already laws in place that make prostitution and human sex trafficking illegal," said said Didi Hansen, a licensed massage therapist. "The city needs to enforce them not try to catch the fox in the hen house by over-regulating the hens!"

Council will discuss possible changes to the ordinance.

In the meantime, the application process and surprise inspections of massage establishments will be delayed. They were scheduled to begin Friday.

Also on Tuesday's agenda, a discussion about promotions announced and then rescinded by Interim City Manager Andrew Freeman.

Freeman promoted Police Chief Martin Birkenfeld to a newly created position, Managing Director of Public Safety. He also promoted several other department heads to Managing Director roles.

Last week, Freeman rescinded the staffing changes.

According to a new release, the city council was not given the chance to approve the changes as required by the Amarillo City Charter.


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