San Jose cracking down on massage parlors ahead of Super Bowl 50

SAN JOSE, Calif. (KGO) -- San Jose is cracking down on massage parlors that may be a front for prostitution. City leaders say they want to get in front of the issue before Super Bowl 50 at Levi's Stadium.

The effort to clean up these types of spas follows neighborhood complaints and a new law that went into effect in January.

None of the businesses cited were engaging in human trafficking, but that is often a concern around large sporting events like the Super Bowl.

One massage parlor, across the street from the Westfield Mall, is one that some of its neighbors would like to see go.

"I don't see many ladies going in there. I'll put it that way. It's all guys," said Rob Metzgar, a longtime San Jose resident.

Metzgar says a couple of years ago, neighbors began noticing more massage parlors along with their clientele.

"One thing is the traffic that comes in at night and all the different characters coming in 10 o'clock at night, right before they close," said Metzgar.

Metzgar lives next door to AromaCare Spa on Forest Avenue.

It's one of five recently cited businesses.

Also on the list is Aroma Spa on Lincoln Avenue, which recently changed owners and its name according to employee, Trevor Huntley.

"I come around here after school and I do some massages," explained Huntley, who does therapeutic massage.

Huntley pointed a sign inside that reads: "Absolutely no touching and no sexual harassment in this health spa."

An employee at Lily Spa on North First Street also said there were new owners in place.

Local governments can require massage parlors to obtain a permit from local law enforcement. That's in addition to the California permits individual massage therapists must also have.

San Jose City Attorney, Rick Doyle, says resources are a challenge. Also that city officials want to clean up this problem before the super bowl.

"If you have thousands of people coming in, and obviously there's a demand for escort and massage services, and I think other super bowl cities have experienced that problem, what seems to go with that is the human trafficking problem. That we are all trying to address," said Doyle.