Gov. Kemp famously stated, "I don't give a damn about politics." What else would justify the premature opening of the economy amidst a pandemic? The current death toll from COVID-19 has surpassed 52,000 to date, 900+ deaths in Georgia and 22,000+ confirmed infections. Opening up the Georgia economy to include service industries such as nail shops, tattoo parlors, hair salons, bowling alleys, movie theaters and restaurants is the wrong thing to do. Without adequate testing, It is impossible to identify carriers of coronavirus which contributes to the spread of the disease.

Our industry needs to reopen and be recognized as an essential business so we can better serve our community. Serving one client at a time while wearing a mask (stylist also wearing a mask and gloves ) poses little or no risk of spreading the virus, as compared to 20 or more people allowed in a grocery store or other big box stores with little or no health protocols in place. The survival of the independent beauty professionals is at risk ! We are facing grave financial hardship !

While mom-and-pops struggle to get a loan through the Payroll Protection Program (PPP), a number of sizable restaurant chains are cashing multimillion-dollar checks from the relief initiative, a cornerstone of federal efforts to help small businesses through the COVID-19 crisis. The parent of the Ruth’s Chris steakhouse chain collected $20 million by applying through each of two subsidiaries. Taco Cabana qualified for a $10 million loan, and Potbelly Sandwich Shop landed a $10 million loan, the largest advance permitted per applicant under the PPP. Kura Sushi, a 25-unit sushi chain, qualified for a loan of just under $6 million. CEO Hajime Uba told investors Tuesday that a portion of the money will be used for owed rent, as permitted under the PPP program. The funds will also be used to continue paying the chain’s chefs, who were not furloughed as the chain temporarily closed all of its restaurants. Management decided that Kura’s menu doesn’t lend itself to takeout and delivery, but opted nonetheless to keep the kitchen staff on payroll. “We made this decision because we believe the near term extent of retention will be lesser than the cost of retraining staff and loss of sales from delayed reopenings,” Uba told financial analysts. “We want to make a best faith effort to use the funds as intended, which is keeping people on payroll,” said Benjamin Porten, Kura’s investor relations manager. “So keeping that in mind as well as the regulations surrounding forgiveness, our labor costs are higher than they would be if we hadn't applied for the loan.” The PPP was part of the $2.2 trillion COVID-19 relief package, popularly known as the CARES Act, that was enacted in late March. The program calls for lending $349 billion to small businesses through the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). A small business is defined as an establishment that employs fewer than 500 employees at that one location, a qualification included specifically to help restaurants that are part of a chain or multiconcept group. Places that fit the bill can borrow up to 2.5 times their payroll, up to a maximum amount of $10 million. The loans come due in two years and carry an interest rate of 1%. But the CARES Act specifies that the loans will be forgiven if the borrower meets certain criteria, including spending 75% of the funds on payroll. The program began on April 3 and almost immediately ran into problems. Banks complained that they were not provided with guidelines for screening potential borrowers. The volume of applications crashed lenders’ websites. Places ran out of money in short order. SBA Jovita Carranza and U.S. Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin said in a joint statement issued Wednesday that it "the SBA has processed more than 14 years’ worth of loans in less than 14 days...The high demand we have seen underscores the need for hardworking Americans to have access to relief as soon as possible. We want every eligible small business to participate and get the resources they need.” Some restaurant operators have complained about a requirement that furloughed employees be rehired within eight weeks of the loan being awarded. Many establishments are completely closed or offering only takeout and delivery. Why ramp up staffing if sales are low or nonexistent? Yet failing to do so will threaten the forgiveness of their loans. The National Restaurant Association and other industry groups have voiced hopes that restaurants will be provided 60 to 90 days to rehire. Ruth’s Hospitality Group, Potbelly, Taco Cabana and Kura were required to reveal their receipt of the loans because all four are publicly owned and obliged to report material developments to investors. Privately owned chains are not obliged to post notice if they qualify for PPP loans. The approach taken by Ruth’s Chris’ parent—having subsidiaries each seek a loan—is likely to be followed by other big restaurant companies, according to Stifel, a brokerage and investment banker. It aired the possibility in a communication to clients that Chili’s Grill & Bar parent Brinker International might take that route to secure $100 million in PPP loans. Brinker is also the parent of Maggiano’s Little Italy. Taco Cabana is a subsidiary of Fiesta Restaurant Group, which also owns the Pollo Tropical brand. The SBA has not revealed how much of the original $349 billion has been lent to date. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has already proposed the appropriation of another $250 billion for the program, but Senate Democrats blocked the measure, saying they would prefer a follow-up that provides assistance to hospitals and states. Rep. Nancy Pelosi, speaker of the House of Representatives, and Sen. Chuck Schumer, the Democratic leader in that chamber, have since suggested that an additional $500 billion be channeled into the program. “We urge Congress to appropriate additional funds for the Paycheck Protection Program—a critical and overwhelmingly bipartisan program—at which point we will once again be able to process loan applications, issue loan numbers, and protect millions more paychecks," Mnuchin and Carranza said in their joint statement.

The survival of the independent salon professionals is at risk. We are facing a grave financial hardship. We need our district officials to see what this is doing to our industry and livelihood.

About 78,000 adults have felony convictions in the Charlotte metropolitan area. Local citizens with misdemeanor convictions adds about 195,000 people with records. For someone with a criminal record, a chance to get back on track is more difficult because they are denied a safe place to live before the rental application is completed. It is an established fact that policies ensuring those returning from incarceration have access to reliable and safe housing help reduce recidivism rates. A “Ban the Box” policy that prevents landlords from asking potential renters about their criminal background until it is determined the candidate is qualified to rent will ensure a fair and equitable process for all people applying to rental housing. Full Ordinance Proposal: https://www.dropbox.com/s/15j6a7f3qmtqrnc/FINAL-DRAFT-Equitable Access to Rental Housing Proposal.docx?dl=0

President Trump is an existential threat to this country, democracy, and society. We will remain in danger as long as he holds this office. He must resign immediately.

They have worked 13 years to graduate. We can not take their ceremony from them. They have worked so hard and deserve this. They should not be punished for the virus. It's not their fault and they would be the only class to not get a proper graduation. Many parents have invested in their senior from kindergarten till now, senior pics, invitations and caps and gowns on top of the emotional toll it has put on many in absolute tears and devastation today.

For the past four years, we have witnessed the rapid rise in violent speech and actions from homegrown White Supremacist and American Nazi groups in our country. They are armed, organized, and aggressive in their recruiting. They have harassed, terrorized, and murdered members of the American Public. They are outspoken and unapologetic about their motives and their mission. This week while our country, along with countries across the globe, is in the throes of an uncontrolled pandemic these organized hate groups have taken to the streets. They are coordinating their efforts and are gathering together in state capitals armed and wearing the “uniform” of a paramilitary force. Their only agenda is to intimidate and terrorize. These groups call themselves “patriots”. They are not. They are bullies whose only aim is to intimidate. They claim that they are the defenders of Democracy. They are not. They are a dangerous and immediate threat to our Democracy. They claim protection under the Constitution. Their claim is false. They are terrorists whose self-stated mission is to disrupt and dismantle freedoms which belong to each member of the American Public. For so many of us right now, we are focused on supporting each other as we navigate through the difficult days ahead. We understand that it will demand an unprecedented effort and we stand ready and willing to meet the challenge. But we need you, all of our elected officials to stand by us.

I AM THE MOTHER OF A SMALL TOWN HEALTHCARE WORKER, I LIVE WITH HER AND SEE HER EVERYDAY BECAUSE I HAVE BREAST CANCER AND TAKING CHEMO EVERY WEEK. SHE IS TERRIFIED THAT SHE WILL BRING THE VIRUS HOME TO ME, NO MATTER HOW CAREFUL WE ARE. I AM NOT DENYING THAT ALL HEALTHCARE WORKERS ARE AT RISK---EVERYDAY---ALL HEALTHCARE WORKER AND EMTS SHOULD BE CONSIDERED IF MONEY IS AVAILABLE TO HELP THEM THROUGH THIS CRISIS, THEY FACE ALL THINGS THAT OTHER HEALTHCARE WORKERS FACE, THE LPN'S, THE PROVIDER, THE OFFICE WORKERS ALL FACE PEOPLE EVERYDAY THAT THEY DO NOT KNOW, THEY COME TO THE CLINIC WANTING TO BE TESTED BUT THE CLINIC DOES NOT HAVE TESTING FOR EVERYONE. THEY ACTUALLY HAVE TO COME IN WITH FEVER, COUGHING---ALL THE SYMPTOMS OF COVID19. IN ORDER TO EVEN BE CONSIDERED FOR TESTING AND THEN IT TAKES DAYS TO GET THE RESULTS. THESE WORKERS ARE PAID MUCH LESS THAN THE BIG HOSPITALS PAY AND YET THEY ARE EXPOSED EVERYDAY. PLEASE CONSIDER THEM FOR BONUSES OR WHATEVER EXTRA MONEY THERE IS FOR PEOPLE ON THE FRONT LINES---BECAUSE THEY ARE VERY MUCH ON THE FRONT LINES, IN THE EARLY STAGES WHERE IT IS VERY HARD TO FIND OUT IF THE PATIENT TESTS POSITIVE.

The survival of the independent beauty professionals is at risk. We are facing grave financial hardship. It is imperative that salons and spas are reinstated. Most of this industry is self-employed, in order to feed our families, pay our bills, and generally survive we need to work. We are not given Paid Time Off or Insurance Benefits nor unemployment.

Time is running out to stop Congress from making a disastrous deal that gives Donald Trump almost everything he wants. Congress is debating the next stimulus bill, and over the weekend news broke that Democratic leaders might agree to a bill that doesn't include funds for the unemployed, doesn't include help for the postal service, doesn't provide vote by mail for the November election. That's bad enough. But the bill also doesn't include any funds for state and local governments. Trump wants to hold that funding hostage to force states to cave to far right protestors and end their lockdowns early, even if it's unsafe. And Democrats appear willing to let him. We have to stop this. Now.

A robust, energetic, and thriving NASA is vital if we are to reach our nation's goal of returning to the Moon and setting foot on Mars. Continuity is desperately needed in long-term strategy, direction and leadership if we are to stay on target for Mars. We, the broader bi-partisan and non-partisan Space community, feel it is our duty to speak up and state our support for keeping Jim Bridenstine as Administrator of NASA in the event Joe Biden wins the next Presidential election for the following reasons: 1) Bridenstine has been one of the most qualified appointees in the current Administration. He has done more for maintaining NASA’s prestige and reputation with the public than any Administrator in recent memory. 2) By communicating with and inspiring the public, as well as keeping the Agency’s bureaucracy running smoothly, Bridenstine has won the respect and admiration of many across the Space community, including those who initially were skeptical of his appointment. 3) He achieves this through an evident and sincere passion for the exploration of space, not only in extending human presence but also for the progress of science itself. 4) His experience as a former politician and former member of the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology gives him an ability to work within Congress to accomplish priorities, winning over not just politicians but the public at large. 5) Beyond all else he has shown a profound ability to hold contractors to account, from both old and new space, ensuring the safety of American astronauts as our country returns to launching from US soil in US rockets. We the undersigned appeal to Joe Biden and his transition team to keep Bridenstine’s passionate and effective leadership so we can maintain consistency, and thus continue the progress that has been made in our efforts to expand our understanding and exploration of all that outer space holds for humanity.