In 2012-2013, an illegal massage parlor, Korean Massage Therapy got shut down for human trafficking and living on the premises, amongst other things.  The town of East Longmeadow stepped in  after Narcotics, ICE, town and state police did not shut them down.  All Licensed Massage Therapists (LMT) are licensed by the state of Massachusetts as of 2007.  Prior to that, each LMT was licensed by the town they were working in until the state stepped in and took over.  Since 2012,  East Longmeadow planning board began charging all new and existing massage therapy facilities a “Special Permit” fee to begin and/or stay in practice after being approved in a public hearing.  They held a hearing in the end of 2012, and charged every facility just the “Special Permit” fee and no other fees.  The town allowed yet another illegal massage parlor to go into the EXACT SAME location for 6-12 months before shutting them down, after the previous Korean Massage Therapy got shut down at that location. The laws have changed since 2012, and LMT’s now have to pay a $250 “Special Permit” application fee, a $25 Property Tax fee, a $30 Business Certificate fee and now a $717 Ad fee to run a local ad in the newspaper (The Republican) in order to announce a public hearing for each facility.  The ad runs your business and personal information (if it’s on the application) without telling you, and puts your life in jeopardy.  Please help me get the state and town to reverse this as it makes this very difficult for small massage businesses to go into this town.  Thank you for your support.