After a recent public hearing, the City Council unanimously approved a fortune teller license for Mary Balestraci.
Balestraci explained that she’s “not really telling fortunes so much as offering spiritual self help.”
“It’s really a spiritual self help site, so more teaching about spirituality, about personal development, and that kind of thing,” Balestraci said.
She added that there will be plenty of free content on her website, but she wanted to create an avenue for people “who may want more in-depth, one-on-one time with me to have that option.”
Ward 4 Councilor Julie Daigle spoke in favor of Balestraci’s license.
“I got to know her since I became a councilor four years ago, and we’ve built a good relationship. She’s been a pleasure to work with, and she keeps an eye on the neighborhood for me,” Daigle said.
She continued, “I think her application is very thorough. I do think it’s funny that we make her go through all this for a virtual fortune teller license, but we agreed that this was state code, and also it’s built into zoning for her to have a license. She needs this, so thank you for a thorough application, and I am 100% in support of this.”
Ward 1 Councilor Craig Welton asked to clarify that this license was purely for an online business.
“Yes, I will not be seeing anyone at my house or on my premises,” Balestraci said.
With that, the public hearing was closed, and the license was permitted with a vote of 11-0.
