North Carolina tattoo artists are a vital part of their communities, all Are required to have up to date certifications including but not limited to Cross Contamination prevention, first aid, CPR and most have multiple years of training in their field. We are also citizens, families, taxpayers, and provide a service that has been proven to be compromised when we, as a form of licensed, provisioned, health care worker, cannot operate from our licensed facilities. Time and time again we as tattoo shop owners, artists, and employees have seen a dramatic rise in major infection, disease, and sometimes death from the closing of our establishments. COVID19 is MORE likely to be spread by those tattooing or piercing at home. It is dangerous and negligent to think that we, as tax payers and competent, well respected shop owners and tattoo artist alike cannot help the current situation rather than hinder it.

Cigar stores in Dallas County are closed because the businesses are considered non essential. Like liquor, tobacco is a product people have legally used and enjoyed since before the founding of this Country. Curb side is safe for food and liquor, why not tobacco? It is nuance without a difference. When I see 80 cars at Loews and 50 cars at major liquor stores what is the impact of 1 or 2 cars at the cigar store? It is safer! Allowing a customer to order ahead and pick up on a couple of cigars at curb side at a Cigar store is safer than it is to go through the drive through at McDonalds.

Ever since COVID-19 it has been affecting us in major ways and forcing people to make tough decisions for their families. We are going through financial hardship. We were promised bail outs through small business loans or grants yet the government has made the stipulations on these grants nearly impossible for our type of business to qualify for the loan to become a grant.not to mention there is no money left for these grants, and a large percentage of the grants went to large businesses and not small businesses. Most tattoo shops, if not all tattoo shops, have been/ will be denied . We have no help when we have been promised help. We are still waiting for an application for independent contractor unemployment. Most of us have gone without making any money for 4 weeks or more. And are looking at another 2 weeks for an unemployment application. Then another 2 to 4 weeks for payment of any kind. The Quarantine was implemented to flatten the curve of the spread of COVID-19 to assure that hospitals were not overwhelmed all the once in to help prevent such a rapid spread . The numbers of infected people is on the decline . We tattoo artists are trained and certified in blood-borne pathogen‘s and cross-contamination as well as many other medical safety and sterility procedures we are just as safe if not safer than most hospitals. tattoo shops are very clean and we take this very serious. This is our livelihood and if we do not return back to work by May 1st many Tattoo businesses will be lost as well as Barbershops, Beauty Salons ,and Groomers among many others. We will not be able to pay our bills, rents/mortgages, Insurances, we have the very potentially of losing everything. We still have to pay our mortgages/ rents and phone bills and gas and electric none of this has stopped for us . Yes, we can postpone them, but they’re not going away! "Some" of us can sustain for a while, but most can't. That doesn’t mean that we are doing OK Governor Wolfe. This is how we pay our bills. This is how we feed our families and we are not getting any help from anyone, nor are we asking for it. We just want to be allowed to return to work, and be able to sustain ourselves. Pennsylvania Tattoo Artist

The survival of the independent beauty professionals is at risk. We are facing a grave financial hardship.

(Español abajo) Currently, the coronavirus crisis has left many in the Mission community without jobs, with many struggling just to pay the rent, feed their families, and to take care of those who have become ill. In San Francisco, the corona infection rate among Latinos is at 25% while the citywide Latino population is only 15 %. Historically, the Mission District has been home to many low-income families and immigrants, many of whom do not speak English and 34% who do not have access to a computer or the internet. To continue with a pre-application meeting in a largely digital format for this major proposed large project at 2588 Mission Street with such a charged history - being burned down three times, one life lost and so many residents and small businesses homeless - is unjust and does not recognize the equity challenges of the community, its history, or the crisis at hand. The process approved by the Planning Department is exclusionary to our Mission community, providing preferred access to those who can afford the technology and are largely unaffected. We ask that the City postpone the pre-application process on all market-rate projects until the Shelter In Place directive has been lifted, a thorough and sensitive City evaluation has been made as to the level of recovery in the community, and a joint decision with community is made that hearings can resume with meaningful community participation. ========================================================= Actualmente la crisis del coronavirus ha dejado a muchos de nuestra comunidad sin trabajo, muchos de ellos luchando para poder alimentar a sus familias y cuidar de los que se han enfermado. En San Francisco, el porcentaje the infección entre Latinos es de un 18% mientras que en la Ciudad entera la población Latina es solo 15%. Históricamente el Distrito de la Misión ha sido el hogar de familias e inmigrantes de bajos recursos, muchos quienes no hablan Inglés, no tienen acceso a una computadora o internet. Continuar con una junta de pre-solicitud en forma mayormente digital en el proyecto de 2588 Calle Mission es injusto y no reconoce las dificultades de inequidad de la comunidad, su historia ni la presente crisis. El proceso aprobado por el departamento de planeación excluye a nuestra comunidad de la Mission, provee acceso preferido a aquellos quienes pueden costear el acceso a tecnología los cuales en su mayoría no se ven afectados. Pedimos que el proceso de PPA en todos los proyectos de vivienda a precio mercadeo sean atrasados hasta que se levante la orden de refugio y la comunidad se recupere.

The survival of the independent tattoo professionals is at risk. We are facing a grave financial hardship.

Ever since COVID-19 it has been affecting us in major ways and forcing people to make tough decisions for their families. We are going through financial hardship. we were promised bail outs through small business loans or grants. Yet the government has made the stipulations on these grants nearly impossible for our type of business to qualify for the loan to become a grant. Most tattoo shops if not all tattoo shops have been/ will be denied . We have no help when we have been promised help. The Quarantine was implemented to flatten the curve of the spread of COVID-19 to assure that hospitals were not overwhelmed all the once in to help prevent such a rapid spread . The numbers of infected people is on the decline . We tattoo artists are trained and certified in blood-borne pathogen‘s and cross-contamination as well as many other medical safety and sterility procedures we are just as safe if not safer than most hospitals. tattoo shops are very clean we take this serious this is our livelihood if we do not return back to work by May 1st many small businesses will be lost . We will not be able to pay our bills, rents/mortgages, Insurances, we have the very potentially of losing everything. We still have to pay our mortgages/ rents and phone bills and gas and electric none of this has stopped for us . Yes, we can postpone them, but they’re not going away! Some of us can still sustain for a while, but that doesn’t mean that we are doing OK this is how we pay our bills this is how we feed our families and we are not getting any help from anyone, nor are we asking for it. We just want to be allowed to return to work in a safe manor

The survival of the independent tattoo professionals is at risk. We are facing a grave financial hardship.

The survival of small business such as Hair Salons, Barbershops, Nail technician and ALL licensed beauty professionals is at risk. We are facing a grave financial hardship

The survival of the independent beauty professionals is at risk. We are facing a grave financial hardship.

This is vital to tattoo artists, body piercers, etc. because we have zero income right now and the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program through The Cares Act has still not been implemented on the Indiana DWD website. A professional tattoo studio is one of the most sterile places you could be, and with proper measures in place we should be allowed to open our doors.

Dog groomers provide an essential service for animals and their families. Long hair dogs/cats can become matted and uncomfortable if not professionally groomed. There are hygienic and pest control problems that can occur due to lack of grooming. Nails will become long and sharp if not attended to, creating a danger to the sick and elderly. Seniors are often not physically able to provide the grooming their pets require. Gov Wolf please allow us to keep are pets safe and clean.