HOAs are control freaks. Not surprised that they are voicing opposition to this. If you so much as fart in the wrong direction, an HOA is sending you a notice...

I wouldn't want these "massage" parlors in my neighborhood either, HOA or not.

yeah screw the massage parlors...moon light bunny ranch thats what lafayette needs

I live at the "cemetery end" of Lafayette and have been appalled at the massage parlor businesses in our extended neighborhood. As a result of this article, I did some Internet research and cannot believe the candid reviews of the services provided in these establishments. If I can read these reviews, why can't our police department read the same reviews and take action? We all know what's going on behind closed doors - prostitution.

Men who visit massage parlors are emotionally stunted, no matter the reason, no judgment implied. Massage parlor visits are just one stop on the road to sex addiction as the addict has to seek out more and varied stimulation for his "fix." While we might call the behavior in massage parlors "harmless," what's next for these men, and our community?

Until now, I've held our city management in high regard. Inaction on this issue condones the behavior. Silence is complicit.

massage parlors that provide illicit services are typically listed on rubmaps.com warning adult/explicit descriptions. it appears the parlors in lafayette are rated highly.

YES!! YES!! light the fires the witch hunt is on!!! while your at it you should battle with the city to remove the bart station too. it's sooo low class! and it lets criminals into our city....lets take away the massage parlors and put in a pot club cause if i have to deal with people like this lady i need to be high.

Hmm, yeh, did a quick CL search and found some stuff that matches the area. Could be older, earlier business though.

i am all for the pot club idea. if every one were high we wouldn't even be talking about this. the massage parlors. people are going to do it no matter if you make it a death sentence to go to these places. the only thing you can do is to put stricter regulations into place. this would include screening the owners and the CMT's certified massage therapist. to out law these places when there are place that are legitimate massage parlors or what you ladies like to call "Spa's" is plane stupid. and to not regulate these places with owners getting back round checks as well as the CMT's even dumber.

A pot club on every corner. Then I can build the organic chocolate chip cookie business I've always wanted and make a killing off the munchie-heads!!

whole foods would sue you for copy right infringement with your cookie business say that you stole the idea from them....LOL

Thanks, J.D.for FINALLY putting this out there. I think people have to be pretty stupid and/or sheltered to think that the proliferation of "massage parlors" in Lafayette, Moraga and Walnut Creek are all legit.
When I lived on 2nd Street, a guy was running a brothel out of his apartment, across the hall from us. When the cops finally busted him, he and the girls just disappeared, and left all their stuff in the apartment.

Good god the Yuppies in lafayette are all up in arms, for all you know there is probably a house in Happy Valley or Burton Valley being used as a whorehouse as we speak.

I can imagine Lamorinda reader that you have never traveled in your days. Funny the countries that legalize and zone areas of massage parlors and cathouses seem to have a much lower rate of violent crime. Ya I do not hear of those deviant men in Holland, Germany going out and committing violent crime. Your comment about massage parlors and sex addiction is absurd

wow, i didn't even know there was anything like that going on in lafayette. i guess i don't get out enough...that being said, if zoning or other rules are being broken these establishments should be cited.

There is a very funny episode of Curb Your Enthusiasm where Larry visits a massage parlour for all the right reasons and is asked if he would like a " happy ending".

http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2012/jan/16/change-law-prostitutes-crime-violent
Protect the women in there - don't criminalize and further marginalize them for their choices. If you don't like the locale, or the aesthetic flavor of the place, enforce zoning or utilize deed restrictions next time. Buy the property. I just think attacking these women and their jobs directly with the law isn't as effective at eliminating them or what they do (or improving their characters) as you might hope. Also - why are the men frequenting this place not in healthy and satisfying, private sexual relationships? Why isn't there any serious concern for that? Instead of bitching about an ugly place you didn't expect to happen why not bitch at the city (a church might be more effective) for not surveying these men and discovering their stories and situations and problems? I'd say instead of outlawing these businesses get out and try to help people with what's missing from their lives and enforce laws that are more serious or more practically enforced. Maybe pass a new ordinance demanding absolutely everyone entering such an establishment must fill out a little questionnaire about their situation -- but no names, etc. (privacy protected completely). If questionnaires aren't filled out - they're closed down. The survey data would be available to anyone interested in what's really going on in the community.

maybe that's where the fenton's should go instead....:)

CJ's comment is my nomination for "comment of the week." JD??

Lets just say for argument's sake that something "unsavory" is going on in these establishments. Personally, I couldn't care less as long as nobody's causing any trouble and no one gets hurt. That being said, the only people that are going to get upset about this is the same busy bodies that have nothing better to do but tell others how to behave and run their lives (i.e. HOA people). My grandfather must be rolling in his grave seeing what Lafayette has become in last two decades. Nosey people getting in everyone else's business.

Simple. First, no one said these were Asian establishments. Second... they seem to be located in a strip mall sort of configuration, with other businesses mixed in. So perhaps your wife goes to the tailor, or the bike shop, and the men waiting to patronize the establishment mistake her for a worker. Apparently the people who live down there said it is happening. That's my point.

Ambiguous? They raised their concern in a public meeting and presumably to the police. That doesn't sound ambiguous to me. Smoke..... possibly fire?

Kenny - hah hah, you're rt, if these guys were truly in "healthy and satisfying" relationships maybe the husband and his wife would even go together from time to time for a little 'happy' massage!

You know, the only thing missing from this discussion is an insightful Regalia editorial comic ala the Lamorinda Sun.

Man [running out door]: "Look, there's prostitution in Lafayette!"

Woman [still behind paper]: "I'm surprised at that! But by Gosh, Honey, our schools are swell! Honey? Honey?"

Wow....what a bummer when we (fredsbreakfast) start attacking folks for putting out their fears and or opinions. Isn't there a more productive response? You don't have to agree with someone...you also don't need to insult them. You lose the readers when you start to get personal. Make your point with facts or your own opinions....

Well okay. I'm sorry. I actually do care about your fears. Please say exactly what you're afraid of.

One day while running errands I parked (on the street) in front of a "massage" parlor to eat my lunch. A man in the massage parlor was peaking through the blinds every couple of minutes. After about ten minutes the guy came out and asked if I needed help, and then realized I was eating lunch. My gut feeling was that he thought I was a wife checking on my husband. Satisfied that I was not a threat, the man went back inside and seconds later another man, in business clothes hastily left the parlor. It does bring a sleazy element to town and possibilities of violence. What if I had been that suspicious wife and stormed the place?

Masseuses, sorry

Myrna - 'Stormed the place'? I'm sure they'd have you arrested, and your husband would reconsider various things. Would you really 'storm' the place? I'm gonna go into couples counselling!

@ChrisNicholson

Point taken, Chris, and entirely likely as I am taking a harder line against Comment Offenders and reacting swiftly to potential violators. Sorry if you got caught in the collateral damage, just please know I'm having to devote more time to care and maintenance of our threads as they grow and that innocent posts may fall victim from time to time.

Lafayette needs to initiate business licenses and fees, a business tax, and the police need to charge $ to issue permits to licensed massage therapists, like San Ramon does. This opens the door to regulation and inspection of businesses, instead of relying on police raids, and would bring in needed city revenue. I have a business in Lafayette and we use all the infrastructure and city services for free. I pay a CCcounty tax only. In Oakland the same business costs me $2000/year in city tax as well as the Alameda County tax. I do not feel I get my money's worth in Oakland, but would be happy to pay my share in Lafayette. I got charged $86 for a false alarm in Oakland because the burglar fled before the police arrived, there was visible damage to the door but no burglar in sight! And that was a good night as the police actually responded and did an investigation. Let's tax the hookers out of town!

Theresa... please see the video tutorial posted on the site today. That should detail my reasons for taking a harder stance. I would rather not, believe me, but the readership demands that we do.

http://www.ci.san-ramon.ca.us/police/massage1.html
Check out what you have to do and pay to operate a massage business in San Ramon. Generally I do not believe in more new laws, but this seems like a very wise move. The cell tower protest created momentum for a new tower ordinance, I suspect the same would happen if the neighborhood organized and demanded a massage ordinance.

I guess all the guys from Lafayette will have to go to Berkeley, Oakland, or SF to get a massage. The businesses probably bring in revenue to the city of Lafayette so if you close these places down then fewer folks will be spending money in Lafayette.

"all the guys from Lafayette" could try a local Lafayette massage where the ladies who lunch crowd goes, Lavande or Lafayette Park Hotel, if it is really only massage they crave.

Hey CB, you're the pot calling the kettle black. "Not seeing the forest throught the tress"? Really. I just took a drive over to the area yesterday and this is what I saw. First off there doesn't seem to be a lot of business although I was only in the area for about 20 minutes, I did not see anyone coming in or out. There were cars parked in the Dyer Dr. side in a driveway of the business and a bunch in front of the businesses driveways on Dyer but that's pretty normal. I took a drive down Willow, Walnut and Woodland, again maybe three cars parked in front of residences and I'm pretty sure they were the owner's. There's been a lot of accusations brought up in the video that just don't add up to the reality. Again, these kind of alarmist statements are the types pushed be people who have an agenda. Until something's been proved, I urge everyone to see for yourself and stop making accusations out of nothing but your fears that something that MIGHT be happening.

OMG, seems all that has been accomplished by this string of comments is to inspire some of the gentlmen like BRH to go get a cheap massage!

Simple solution for the residents living next to these establishments if they want to drive them out of business. Form a 24 hour watch group to sit outside of the massage parlors armed with signs and a video camera aimed to capture the patrons that are frequenting the establishment. The sign should say "smile you are about to be posted to the internet". Perhaps Myrna Iarson can be the first to volunteer since she likes to eat her lunch in her car parked outside of the massage parlor.

BR and BRH (? same poster) this is all pretty entertaining! Where will you hide your secret mic and camera since you will have no clothes on?

CB, You're might be right about the possibility of something going on. All I've been saying all along is that some of these self-righteous people are making accusations without one factual truth (other than a neon-sign). I like to work in facts and yes, I'll check things out myself before I throw someone under a bus and take away their business or livelihood.

"if they want to drive them out of business" ~ out onto the streets and onto the Internet - less managed less supervised less regulated. Maybe if frustrated men can't go to see the happy masseuse they'll become gay and join a SF sex club, which replaced the bath house ... how's that sound? Why are men going to the happy house? Why try humiliating the men? Maybe post the wives' pics on the net. Say: "another woman uninterested in pleasing her man". Seriously, why no interest in my heal them-don't humiliate them approach? Help these poor guys, don't beat up on them ... they're desperate for intimate physical loving (with in-shape, sexy women). What's up with that? Don't any of you women care?

New City Ordinance: Happy Massage patrons respond on-the-spot to a survey questionnaire - or pay a 25 dollar tax on top of the cost of massage.

If perhaps these men aren't married, and aren't good marriage material, discover why not, and figure out the demographic development. If it turns out the guys are really really scary, give 'em community funded discounts at Happy Massage establishments, in exchange for complete personal info and ID. Maybe even tracking devices. And if it turns up in the data that some of these guys are super duper wicked types, give 'em a daily free pass to Happy Massage but the rest of the day they work in prison suits cleaning streets of Lafayette on chain gangs! (Don't worry about the girls at these places, they're tough, and their managers take good care of them) Then after a few months of chain gang and daily 'happiness' with a manager/bouncer watching over them, they may be resocialized enough to remarry, or even open their own Happy Massage business.

Nominate theresa's "unchecked baggage" comment for "Quotes of the Week!"

"Yeah Fred, blame the wives".
Myrna - I'm not blaming wives or excusing men. I was just wondering about what's going on in these guys lives - instead of condemning and demonizing them. I don't know if all these guys are really completely terrible people. Maybe some of them are weak, needy, psychologically wounded somehow. Earlier, someone said 'emotionally stunted' - okay, maybe so. I just see lots of women these days who're readily treated as victims of various wrongs, and I was wondering of it's possible some of these men have psychic/emotional needs too. Go ahead and put them in jail if they're breaking laws, I understand - i was just wondering if punishment and shame are the only two solutions to guys' choosing this interesting route to sexual pleasures, rather than a path presumably safer or more seemly and wholesome. I'm sure none of these men imagine this to be the ideal sex life -- they've each got a story, and problems. I also doubt many of them are oblivious to the character of the communities in which they live and work and play. But again - I'm not excusing the behaviors - just trying to understand it a little. Did you follow either of my two links?

After looking at the online graphic descriptions of 3 of these parlors I kind of agree that I would rather these deviants act out with a hooker in a massage parlor, instead of in our schools. So where in our town is a good place for a red light district? The empty Dodge dealership, hidden away from prying eyes. Oh, but that won't work! I read that MIKE'S BODY SHOP leased it, or is that another brothel? HUNGRY HUNTER is also available, no need to change the name. Just NIMBY.

http://www.rubmaps.com/lafayette-massage-parlors-ca

Lovelafayette, John - sorry, someone just informed me that you may not like me making fun of the notion that without the 'happy' massage businesses we'd suddenly have all these guys running to pray on our school children. Look, I really didn't mean to say something that would hurt feelings or make light of real fears. I just find the idea ridiculous that these men would see such little difference in these adult professional masseuses - and school children. Sorry - I do care about readers' real fears very much. I think I was imagining more prejudice and bigotry toward these poor guys rather than actual fear of them. I'm sorry - if there's real fear, I'm really sorry, I wasn't making fun of that.

Phone call, theresa..... it's the Vatican.

;-}

theresa - I'm easy prey to your superior vocabulary, spelling, grammar and usage; I'm just unaware (not in denial) of evidence that these 'happy' massage patrons are also likely child predators - and I feel like the naked hatred toward these men--or at least toward their consorting with these women--represents an un-happy coldness that may do more harm than good in the larger picture. Associating these 'happy' massage customers with criminal predators in the Church seems to me to represent more of the same cold hatred. If these men are criminals let's lock 'em up. I'm just unaware of the level of immorality and depredation attributed to all these men which some of the ostensibly 'fearful' comments indicate. I don't remember reading anything in this thread helping me to see alarming and dangerous character flaws in these massage clients - unless you believe men desiring consensual uncomplicated sex with adult women indicates something specially fearsome and ugly about these particular guys. Maybe it does - I'm genuinely curious; I just detect something angry and mean here besides whatever sadness (may) result from these men's cavorting ways.

In these posts, and today in the CCT: Lafayette City Council meeting, Thomas Raeth," Our kids are getting solicited." Those children are being targeted by pedophiles, wouldn't you agree?

This neighborhood should go directly to the Contra Costa District Attorney and file your complaint, they will take you seriously.

Does anyone seriously think for a moment these folks are targeting *children*? It's facially absurd. These women are trying to run a business -- a sketchy business, I'll grant you -- but it's a business and there's not much money in offering sex to children. They're not in a position to offer $60 or $100 or whatever it costs.

So funny,Ii brought this up with LPD last year, I have heard from many acquaintance that the Happy Endings are on the other end of the strip, Closest across from LPD, Second is near roundup and third is neighbors to Millie’s, But then again as I have no First Hand Knowledge and this is just Word of Mouth!

Good Sunday morning to Pope John Doe & his flock. Last week I was asked what taxes I favor. Well, #1 is taxing & regulating the world's oldest profession. # 2. Taxing & regulating stupid weed. #3 Taxing churches. I was staring at great big Saint Perpetua Church, when I was being questioned. The ill advised do gooders are helping crooks get rich, by keeping high demand things illegal. i attended the infomercial/fundraiser about human trafficking. Obviously there is a demand for sex by people of all races, ages & sexual life styles. J. D.'s flock wants to keep the police & D.A's busy & the prisons full & the government bankrupt.

OK, I'll ask. What are you talking about?

You're saying we should legalize prostitution, marijuana, and tax the churches and that will make things easier for the police and courts and empty our prisons, or most of them. Right?

I am not sure what he (Bruce) meant or whether he was serious, but I agree that we should legalize and tax (non-punitively) most vices, including drugs and prostitution. I also see no reason at all why churches as such (not related entities that exist exclusively to do secular charitable work) should be exempt from tax and disclosure requirements. Also, I see no reason why donations to churches (again, as such) should be tax deductible. Neither preaching nor amassing vast fortunes tax-free advance any public purpose that I can detect-- why not ask these organizations to be self-sufficient without a taxpayer subsidy?

Note that a removal of tax-exempt status from *most* churches probably would not have much impact, because their salary and other expenses would be deductible business expenses. They would just pay tax on the profit/surplus, like all other organizations. Admittedly, denial of a deduction for tithing would likely reduce giving a bit, but I suspect that people would just apportion their giving to run the preaching business at break even, while giving excess funds to the charitable affiliates.

Together, these moves would help empty prisons and reduce the deficit without reducing public safety at all.

Well - to me, very little emanating from our federal government serves public purposes so swimmingly. I'm not up on (aware of) current evidence supporting the the notion that roads and police are most effectively and efficiently provided by government - even local governments.

I'm not asking government to support religion; I do believe though, that religious faith in certain fundamental values and principles provides a necessary framework for our economic and political systems of living and interacting with each other. Religion (sometimes, in certain ways) supports government--of established principles and truths. Government (force) doesn't support religious 'faith', quite the same way.

Sorry - of course local governments should provide local enforcement of local law. I think I earlier said something else which I didn't really mean to say, sorry.

I like very much, generally, all that you are saying. I'm Christian, libertarian, cornucopian, republican, individualist, western, conservative; I very much like everything about our U.S. constitution. Yes, I support economic and political freedom--and liberty. I'm in favor of minimizing government--which of course is always essentially the negation of liberty. Yes, I do support freedom - much more than 99% of anyone and everyone I've ever encountered in all my life.

Religious organizations pay no property tax. Shall I declare my Game Refuge a religion, to get out of paying property taxes? The CCC BOS & city & county public works departments have a proposed fee, to tax us for the rain water that lands on our roof. The bigger the roof, the bigger the tax. They call it the Clean Water Program. Your ballot for this sham, should arrive in your mailbox soon. Over $1,000,000 in taxpayer's money has been squandered on advertising. The obviously corrupt Contra Costa Times published a hogwash story about the February 7th Supervisor's meeting. I was there, front & center. The meeting was a sham. The predetermined outcome, arrived that afternoon by snail mail.
Now please tell me why I should be concerned about Massage Parlours or the Meth Lab I heard about on Sunday or the booze bottles people throw out their car windows into our Game Refuge.

@Bruce, The reason you should be concerned is because if everyone ran amuck and threw their trash everywhere and built meth labs and killed animals at will you wouldn't have a game refuge to claim as a religion.. there are shams everyday its called politics, If you don't like them then don't vote for the politicians who make the stuff up. The problem with the clean water is that it's a federal mandate that we clean our waterways and we wouldn't have this problem if people cared. People have been selling snake oil since the begining, It's up to you to decide on which snake oild you want to buy and sell..

SO i had to know what was all the hub bub about, SO I WENT TO ONE!!!Dom! Dom! Dom! i went to the one next to Greg's muffler 3327 mt. Diablo blvd. The woman answered the door bell and took me into a room. which was very nice and heated. she then told me the price for and hour $50 and told me to undress after she left and cover myself with the towel and lay on the massage table. so i did and after a hour long great massage i expected to hear "honey you want Extra?" i didnt so i asked expecting her to tell me a price and she said "I dont do EXTRA and if you want that kind of massage don't come here...there is the place down the street they do that" i told here sorry and thank you and tipped her. FYI the massage WAS Great! so not all the places in lafayette are shady whore houses. but i will try the others and report back. and unless you are all willing to try the place out and see if they offer extra...STFU and to all the ladies who are scared to lose you husband to these seedy places. maybe you need to see if there is serious room for improvement in the bedroom.

" ...room for improvement in the bedroom"?
Careful there, the women of Patch have made clear - that topic is illegitimate. Better we demonize your masseuse. Can't you say anything to confirm our fears?

Maybe you would have more luck with your wives if you didn't call them out on a public forum.
This thread is getting ridiculously funny. Are you people for real?!

For a second or two today I thought this was all to real when I was going to get lunch at Siam Orchid, I had parking my car and was walking up to the restaurant when I noticed some guy was getting out of his late model caddy with the faux fur seats and the fuzzy dice hanging from the mirror, He had a big ole hat on and his cain in hand, looked around and said theres my bitches, tourning to look I noticed he had his wife and four little toy dogs wearing diapers coming from the vets office..

Does anybody remember what the story was about??
This is the worst comment thread ever.

Kenny "DivalentDaddy" Tuckerman. HELL yeah i went in there and asked. why you MAD BRO??? honestly i had to see with my own eye's, if that comes down to asking a woman to be a prostitute than so be it. And if some one said that you could take a ferrari f355 and do 175mph on the hwy 24 i would try....umm wait i already did. and the lady told me after i asked her for the extra "I SAY NO TO KENNY, I SAY NO TO YOU!!!"

Do they offer these massages to women? I could really go for a rub and poke;)
I hadn't noticed these places in town until this week when these town nosetta's started the gossip. How many do we actually know of and where are they besides the one near Petar's?

I think its time to put this bedtime story to sleep with a happy ending!

"even though you had no evidence that she was a prostitute or had any interest in being a prostitute"
The compulsive urge is just too much; it's such a terrible disease you know. The minute you walk in, even if just by accident, you're hopelessly addicted.

i think 4 but and not positive. know there is one behind el jarro, one next to greg's muffler, the one next to the pool supply place, and i heard there is one next to the safe way but i haven't seen it. event thou i walked threw that area to get to millie's kitchen didn't see any thing

Stay away from those school yards Sneaky!

Thanks Sneaky John, my day will be busy tomorrow. I wonder how many more are out there that are " hidden" in plain sight. I guess this locations would be less of a problem since they wouldn't be effecting our clean white church non sexed environment. Honestly I would be quite upset to find out my husband or college aged son was out having sex with a revolving door vagina endangering our health. It's basically like our whole community is having sex with each other.

"revolving door vagina endangering our health"!
Huh?
Yep, it's well documented - no one has ever come out of one of these lower-end, happy-type massage places without emerging totally disease ridden, and presumably also with a new lust for preying on the community's children; it's inevitable.

So, if you found out your husband was "out having sex with a revolving door vagina", your 1st concern would be the health and safety of your 'whole community', not your un-'happy' bedroom, and obviously unsatisfied husband? That seems weird and mean-hearted to me.

Are you sure you know so much about incidence of disease contraction at these places? Are you sure you really even care? Is your concern about public health, or love and happiness between you and your husband?

@Chris F. People do throw there trash everywhere. A walk around Little League's City Park, shows children learn to throw trash at an early age. Firing guns is outlawed in Lafayette, so the animals in my game refuge are safe. As for finding better politicians to elect. I expect to see flying pigs first. No honest person would ever get campaign money from special interest groups, who rule politicians.. Spreading propaganda wins elections. Kvetching about massage parlours & drug use, gets publicity. Once elected, they are in politics for life. There are very few exceptions.

"No honest person would ever get campaign money from special interest groups"? ...? Are you sure? Not even a special interest group made up of principled individuals like you - organized for the very purpose of fighting any and all special privileges and perks? Are you sure that no election can ever be won with the truth? Never?

@ fredsbreakfast. Since i only know one person named Fred, who loves the Patch. I will write his/your name in for County Supervisor this year. I usually write my neighbor's dog(s) in for City Council. The poor dogs can't even walk or play on the City Park next door. They will be met by hostility from the special interest group that owns The Lafayette City Council. The special interest group has their very own public servant,(called a maintenance man) to harass dogs & their feeders. The parts of the park not under the totalitarian's control, have serious maintenance issues. There is trash, fire hazards & poison oak in abundance. No one dares tell the truth. Hostile lawyers run the special interest group, with ex football players turned mortgage bankers for scary effects. Fred, you must be eating flying pigs for breakfast. Every meeting I've attended, Lafayette City Council or CCC BOS has been a sham.

I've never paid attention to local politics. You wanna run?

Proof? Jesus, the fringe this thread has run to! I'm sure there's much under the surface of our town that would terrify us. Consider the popular educator who now dwells in state prison. Divorces? Affairs? Murder? It's all here. You don't need to act so shocked!

@ fredsbreakfast. I ran for Lafayette City Council in 1984. Everything I ever did & some things I did not do (bad), made front page headlines in the obviously corrupt Contra Costa Sun/Times. Since then I have been ridiculously harassed by the Lafayette P.D. Fred, you should be paying attention to local politics. They are incredibly corrupt. Boring too. Sometimes hostile. I went to Mark DeSaulnier's town hall meeting last night. The crowd looked so dour, I picked up the e-mail addresses of the nice female aides & departed to the men's room. Mark DeSaulnier walked in & peed at the same trough. We had a 2 minute chit chat. I showed him the small building I constructed & the clone near it. I warned him of the dour crowd awaiting him. I enjoyed the free concert @ Campolindo in a comfy chair. This was supposed to be about the Asian Massage Parlour that did not know Lafayette is full of Nazis. I have to go to halfwaytoconcord.com to find stories about the sham tax/fee, that arrived by snail mail yesterday. Politician.s sneak, lie & cheat. People like fredsbreakfast have their heads in the sand. I walk around & talk to people. I never know who or what I might find.

@fredsbreakfast. Did you ever notice that all of the fancy signs on projects all over Lafayette, saying the projects are funded by State or Federal money? Lafayette's RDA is drowning in debt. I was not allowed to vote on RDA or any project but my own home. Now their are totalitarians telling people what they can do on their own property. Right down to the color of their home & the type of trees they can plant.

Well, I'm not used to these RDAs. I've lived most of my life in Texas -- sounds to me like RDAs would probably not be allowed under Texas's constitution. They seem like a bad idea here too. Maybe while people are finally beginning to pay attention to the multi-trillion dollar federal government train wreck they have a hard time keeping up with these super-governmental agencies going around condemning properties willi nilli like--unless it's your property! And then the growing public-sector pay/pension crashes are delayed because redevelopment let cities postpone dealing with the problem by encouraging them to seek out new tax revenues by subsidizing sales-tax-generating redevelopment projects.

Yeah, maybe the wives should just set up shop themselves so they can be erotic therapeutic heroes and have a little Nordie money as a benefit. Then all the men in the neighborhood could thank their lucky stars for these gifted and giving neighbors.

It's not about me. I'm just more interested in the truth about what goes on with these places and some of the communities' husbands -- and why -- than in dumbly indulging unrealistic and naive fears about Shanghai women attacking school children with happy-melody massages. I'd rather think and joke a little about actual problems and actual solutions than fret over and feel sorry about imagined calamities and dirty icky creepiness. Don't feel so sorry for me, and don't feel sorry for the happy massage phenomenon; where are the victims? Try to have a little fun and imagine ways to encourage and enhance healthfulness and virtue in the community. What's the best way to do that?