From: Kurtis Bennett
To: Kurtis Bennett
Cc: CityCouncilListPublic; PLANCOM - Planning Commission; Cregan, John; Andrew Lukas; Katie Mason; Beverly May; Mark Dixon; Ahmos Netanel; Rick McElroy; Lisa Diaz-McQuaid; Kirk, Lou; DeBaca, Daniela; Osburn, Gabe; Smalstig, Madison
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Mission Accomplished: Last Massage Ordinance Update Email (Hooray!!) Date: Wednesday, March 5, 2025 7:40:21 AM
To all:
Per usual, concerned citizens names Bcc'ed
I'm happy to report that the City Council adopted the new massage ordinance last night (7-0 vote). The ordinance will address the illicit massage business issue while safeguarding the livelihoods of local professional, certified massage therapists.
Watch the meeting at YouTube Link, Massage Ordinance starts at 3:03:00 The new ordinance reflects the hard work of many, including our City Council, Police Department, Planning Department and Commission, Code Enforcement Team, CAMTC, and others I regretfully have forgotten to mention. Thank you to all involved. This new ordinance stands to change the lives of human trafficking
victims, hold criminals accountable, and strengthen our communities.
I'm grateful to have been involved in the process and witnessed local government's power
to make positive change. We did it!
Gratefully,
Kurtis
From: Janice Blalock
To: Kurtis Bennett
Cc: CityCouncilListPublic; PLANCOM - Planning Commission; Cregan, John; Andrew Lukas; Katie Mason; Beverly May; Mark Dixon; Netanel Ahmos; Rick McElroy; Lisa Diaz-McQuaid; Kirk, Lou; DeBaca, Daniela; Osburn, Gabe; Madison Smalstig; Kurtis Bennett; Cregan, John; Netanel Ahmos; Kirk, Lou; DeBaca, Daniela; Osburn, Gabe; Madison Smalstig
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Re: Mission Accomplished: Last Massage Ordinance Update Email (Hooray!!) Date: Wednesday, March 5, 2025 8:43:10 AM
Dear all
That was a truly moving experience last night-the culmination of efforts by community members expressing concerns regarding the proliferation of massage parlors opening in their neighborhoods, and the recognition of a true community organizer , Kurtis Bennett, who brought in key players including the SRPD, the DA’s department, Verity, the Family Justice
Center, code enforcement, CMTC and our elected leaders to make real change. Just a little more than a year after that first community meeting at the downtown Santa Rosa library, amended ordinances regarding massage were created,
proposed and passed unanimously to
keep our communities safer and to protect the livelihoods of legitimate massage therapists.
These ordinances will in turn provide the opportunity for more targeted support to victims of Human Trafficking. As a member of the Sonoma County Human Trafficking Task Force and a member of the Verity Board of Directors, last night literally brought me to tears to see how we’ve grown as a community in understanding the importance of safety and dignity that we all deserve .
Kurtis, I am so grateful you decided to take up residence in our beautiful city! Congratulations, all!
Jan Blalock
Sent from my iPad
On Mar 5, 2025, at 7:40 AM, Kurtis Bennett < > wrote:
To all:
Per usual, concerned citizens names Bcc'e
I'm happy to report that the City Council adopted the new massage ordinance last night (). The ordinance will address the illicit massage business issue while safeguard the livelihoods of local professional, certified massage therapists
Watch the meeting at YouTube Link, Massage Ordinance starts at 3:03:00
The new ordinance reflects the hard work of many, including our City Council, Police Department, Planning Department and Commission, Code Enforcement Team, CAMTC, and others I regretfully have forgotten to mention. Thank you to all involved. This new ordinance
stands to change the lives of human trafficking victims, hold criminals accountable, and strengthen our communities.
I'm grateful to have been involved in the process and witnessed local government's power to make positive change. We did it!
Gratefully,
Kurtis