Joan Sullivan moved back to Warren last February. One problem stuck out to her in the area: Possible human trafficking.
"I think human trafficking is a national issue. And then it trickles down to smaller problems," Sullivan said Thursday during a committee meeting at Warren Council Chambers.
This isn't a new problem in Warren. City Council and the Mahoning Valley Organizing Collaborative spent months researching 10 suspicious massage parlors within the city limits.
"We believe these spas are a front for human trafficking where the girls will come in, they will provide services for two or three weeks and then they will be moved to another location," Sullivan said.
Sullivan suspects some parlors of illegal activity, but so far there haven't been busts at any of the city's current parlors.
"According to law enforcement, they don't have any record of any illegal activity," said 6th Ward Councilwoman Cheryl Saffold.
Just to be safe, the MVOC recommended that all recreational masseuses in Warren get another 100 hours of certified training, any immigration forms must be displayed and unusual business hours be regulated.
"A lot of these people that come to the spas, you know, they don't necessarily want to be seen. That's why it's easier to do it in the evening time," Sullivan said.
Warren has legislation on massage parlors already in the works. But many block watches in the area didn't think the bill was strong enough.
That's where the MVOC came in. Council said the new legislation would help investigations move along.
"If there is illegal activity being done, we like to make certain that activity ceases," Saffold said.
"Other areas have done it. So I think Warren can do it too," Sullivan said.
Warren City Council will vote on the bill Sept. 1.
