South Pasadena massage parlor loses license for 15 days
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A massage parlor will lose its business license for 15 days in the wake of two arrests related to prostitution at the business earlier this year, the City Council decided Wednesday.
The unanimous decision came down eight months after a King Spa masseuse and the business’ then-owner were arrested for soliciting prostitution and running a disorderly house, respectively. King Spa is the second local massage parlor to see its license suspended after prostitution-related arrests. Massage Villa had its license suspended for five days in July.
Like jurors weighing all the evidence in a trial before making a decision, council members took a little more than an hour to decide how to deal with King Spa Massage and its new owner, Shunhua Yan.
The council rejected proposals for a 10-day and 20-day suspension before compromising at 15 days. The suspension goes into effect Nov. 1.
Much of the council’s discussion centered on whether Yan should be punished for the operation of her predecessor, and whether she knew the business was tainted when she bought it. Yan told the council last month that she was unaware of King Spa’s problems when she acquired it.
Councilman Robert Joe said he was convinced that Yan has some prior knowledge of King Spa’s history.
Councilman Philip Putnam said businesspeople usually know the local landscape, although he agreed with a finding that Yan did not have prior knowledge.
“When you own a business… (you) know what the other restaurant in town is charging for chicken or anything else on their menu,” Putnam said. “They know who’s got happy hour; they know who’s got entertainment; they know if the health department’s been in any other restaurant.”
Councilman Richard Schneider suggested the city change the process of considering business licenses so it can take action faster than it did with King Spa.
“We need to speed up the process so it’s done expeditiously,” Schneider said. “it should be handled administratively by the city manager, first of all, and if necessary, have it appealed to the city council.”