A legal settlement between the city and the massage parlors may have been the final nail in their coffin. The details are outlined in an article in today’s Tribune, however I recommend an article that appeared Saturday on cleveland.com written by a Plain Dealer reporter. This piece gives you a much better sense of how wide-spread the marketing of the massage parlors was and the damage they did to Warren’s reputation.

While we’re on the topic of the parlors (for the last time I hope) I feel I should address a recent Tribune editorial that referenced a letter I wrote to them in part about Law Director Hicks which I’ve been hearing about from every other person I’ve seen since it ran a week ago. I’m not retracting anything I said as it was entirely factual. (full text: Dear Editors_nov3-2011)

But I’d like to add an update. First, the Tribune did not mention that that letter was written more than seven months ago. Much has changed since then and I hold no grudge against Mr. Hicks, who ultimately played an important role in ridding Warren of this plague.

If I could wave a magic wand and change one thing about Warren it would be the attitude that permeates our political discourse. In Warren it seems never to be enough to disagree with someone. We must always accuse our opponents of being stupid, lazy or corrupt, thus insuring that they’ll take the opposite view we take on the next important issue.

So let me be very clear by saying I do not think Mr. Hicks is stupid, lazy or corrupt; I do think he was wrong in his approach to the community groups who were trying to improve the condition of Warren through legislation to control the massage parlors. But I remain hopeful that there will be situations in the future where we find ourselves on the same side of an issue and are able to work for the common good of the city.

Thus ends my sermon for this morning. Have a great day everyone — including Mr. Hicks.