Macon and Massage Parlors
Macon, Georgia is home to about 25 Asian Massage Parlors. This is a city of less than 100,000. To put this in context, San Francisco, a metropolitan area of 4.2 million—has 99 spas. San Francisco has a spa per every 42,000 people. Macon has a one spa per every 4,000. "Johns" (or men who purchase prostitutes) in Tifton brag online that the place to go is the spas in Macon – a town 105 miles away.
In raids conducted over the past two years, police have discovered one international and one domestic sex trafficking victim.
The problem is real, and it is here.
Massage Ordinances and International Prostitution and Trafficking Rings
The Macon police have intermittently raided places suspected of conducting prostitution, and raids are instrumental in rescuing trafficking victims.
But Macon's current laws are not strong enough, clear enough, or enough of a deterrent to shut these criminal operations down. Consequently, most of the spas that have been raided are still open.
A different solution is needed.
That is why MG ALERT is working with local and state government to develop a massage and spa establishment ordinance to help close the loopholes that exist in current law – and to close criminal prostitution or trafficking rings masquerading as massage parlors once and for all.
Macon needs the same massage ordinances that have worked so well to discourage criminal prostitution rings in at least 120 Georgia cities, towns, and counties.
Of Georgia’s major cities and tourist destinations (Athens, Atlanta, Savannah, Augusta, Columbus, Helen, Marietta, Warner Robins, Albany, Roswell, Stone Mountain, etc.), Macon stands alone in its utter disregard of the proliferation of massage parlors within its borders.
Because we’ve inadvertently carved out a lawless pocket at the intersection of two of the largest interstates in Georgia, unceasing police raids are Macon’s only regulatory device for sex spas.
And it’s a far more expensive regulatory device than licensing and inspections.
Macon loses money, and the criminals keep their doors open to make more money.
It’s a win-win situation for criminal prostitution and trafficking networks and a lose-lose situation for Macon’s reputation and treasury.
The solution?
We are lobbying Macon to pass a thorough massage ordinance like the ones passed in every other major city dotting Georgia's highways.
And we need your help to make it happen.