Concerns for police surveillance and possibly burdening workers with extra training are pushing massage therapists and advocates to speak out against Santa Barbara’s proposed massage therapy ordinance.

The ordinance would lead to significant increases in permitting fees, annual and unannounced inspections, and Live Scan fingerprinting for all employees. It also would require therapists to get certified by the California Massage Therapy Council, which includes training for 500 hours. Currently, therapists only needed 250 hours of training.

Massage establishment owner Shaohong Watanabe, and UC Santa Barbara feminist scholars Mireille Miller-Young and Kimberly Soriano spoke out against the ordinance Wednesday night at an event held at Orgullo Wine at 137 Anacapa St. About two dozen people attended, including Santa Barbara City Councilman Oscar Gutierrez.

Watanabe, owner of Little Rainbow Foot Spa, said many of her employees who already have years of experience and certifications from different states would have to go back to school if the ordinance passes. 

“I have one worker who just graduated with 250 hours, she worked very hard for a long time,” Watanabe said. “Also, she had another education from a Texas massage school, but it’s not accepted. She has to go back to school again.”

Watanabe added that she has another employee with 750 hours of training from Michigan who would also have to go back for 500 more hours. 

The current ordinance hasn’t been updated since 1976. Police Chief Kelly Gordon has told the City Council that the proposed changes would make it easier to crack down on any establishments using massage therapy as a front for human trafficking, prostitution or other crimes. 

The way the ordinance is currently proposed, therapists would have to get certified by Jan. 1, 2029. In the meantime, a limited exemption certification would be available to allow for anyone not currently certified to continue working.

The city can decide what level of education a massage therapist must have in order to get a license, and does not currently require California Massage Therapy Council certification.

If Santa Barbara requires the certification, the California Massage Therapy Council ensures compliance of the Massage Therapy Act at no cost to the city. However, if the city didn’t require the California Massage Therapy Council certification, it would be up to the Police Department to regulate and track all massage therapists, which could lead to more expensive permitting fees, according to department officials.

Mireille Miller-Young, a UCSB professor in feminist studies, argued that the ordinance would give the police “free rein” to raid businesses. 

“It’s basically an excuse that allows police to enter a private establishment where there was no issue, no complaint, no heads up about something, and say ‘we’re doing this to protect the workers,’” Miller-Young said. 

She added that this was particularly disturbing with anti-Asian violence rising during the pandemic and the recent increase in immigration enforcement. 

“What we’re talking about is this is an excuse to bring more policing and ICE into our communities,” Miller-Young said. “It’s not at all about protecting clients, protecting workers from any kind of abuse by owners.”

The Santa Barbara ordinance committee, which consists of councilmembers Gutierrez, Kristen Sneddon and Mike Jordan, discussed the ordinance in January.

They voted to send it to the full council for discussion with options concerning Live Scan, grandfathering in veteran massage therapists, and rules for massage therapists who operate in their homes.

The ordinance is expected to go to the council later this summer.