Fireflies, Jesse, Rockdale, alert, warning,
Jesse,
I wasnÂ’t originally going to say anything, but I feel I have a duty of care to fellow customers/punters and, more importantly, to any women who may be considering working in future ventures you are involved in.
Over the years, you feel like you get to know someone. While I wouldn’t say we were close friends, I genuinely believed we had developed a level of mutual respect since first meeting during the “42 Days”. Unfortunately, recent events have made it clear how mistaken that assumption was. It seems some people present very different versions of themselves depending on the setting.
The last time I saw you in person was in September or October. I had a booking that evening and saw you afterward at reception. You appeared extremely unwell and dishevelled. My initial concern was that drugs may have been involved, but knowing you had personal matters going on at the time, I chose to give you the benefit of the doubt and attributed it to stress. I attempted to speak with you, but you were largely incoherent and not making sense.
After speaking with reception, I was informed the premises would be demolished around mid-January, and I made a mental note to visit once more before then. In December, I returned to say my goodbyes. As I walked upstairs, I noticed an excessive amount of rubbish and debris. I later learned demolition had already begun earlier than expected.
While waiting near where reception used to be, I noticed numerous documents scattered across the floor—court papers and police documents relating to drug possession and DVO matters. The fact that such sensitive personal material had been left exposed was genuinely shocking. Shortly after, construction workers asked me to leave.
Not wanting to waste the evening, I headed to Surry Hills to visit another establishment where you had previously worked. On the way, I ran into one of the mature older Vietnamese women who had worked under you at Fireflies or the other location 380. She informed me she was still owed money, as were other workers and staff members. She also showed me messages from you asking her to invest significant sums—several thousand dollars—in a new venture.
I later spoke with a friend who had been a regular at Fireflies. He told me he had visited your new shop in Rockdale and was extremely unimpressed. He described the premises as resembling a hoarderÂ’s house, filled with old items from Fireflies. When he attempted to use a bathroom in one of the rooms he was directed to, he observed drug utensils on the sink or windowsill. He also mentioned only two workers were present, neither of whom matched the standards or representations outlined on your websiteÂ’s job opportunities page. As he was leaving, he said you asked him for a substantial financial investment.
What concerns me most is that Fireflies appeared to be thriving in its final six months. I recall Paula mentioning the business had become busy, staff numbers had doubled, rooms were upgraded, and there was consistent new, pretty, lovely ladies. Reception staff were professional, helpful, and consistently welcoming. None of this seemed to carry over to your new operation. It's a complete mess, you have people sleeping on the floor in reception and who knows what else is going on there. As I drove past the other night two police cars were on standby at the front of the premises.
ItÂ’s deeply disappointing. I was genuinely hoping to see Black Garter restored to something resembling its former success from years ago. Instead, what could have been a well-run, reputable establishment appears to have been turned into a dog's breakfast.
I hope you take this feedback seriously and reflect on the impact your actions have had on others. You're staff members and the lovely ladies must be paid, you're lower than shark shit if you disregard the matter.
