Massaging the Law: The Rise of Illicit Massage Parlors in SoCal

Several Southern California cities have seen an overwhelming increase in the number of massage parlors in the past few years.

As KCET's Lata Pandya reports, many local leaders and community members have voiced their support for a state bill that would better regulate the massaging industry and restore control to cities and counties.

Huntington Beach alone has seen a 600 percent increase in the number of massage establishments over the span of three years.

Pandya reported that there have been 22 suspicious massage parlors in Eagle Rock -- two fewer than last year, according to the LAPD. On the other hand, Huntington Beach has seen an increase of nine more massage parlors since our last report.

In this segment, Val Zavala revisits a "SoCal Connected" investigation involving the increase of illicit massage parlors throughout Southern California.

Featuring Interviews With:

• Chief Ken Small, Huntington Beach Police Department
• Michael Nogueira, Eagle Rock business owner
• Detective Mike Valdez, Los Angeles Police Department
• Ahmos Netanel, CEO, head of California Massage Therapy Council
• Assemblyman Jimmy Gomez