Salon, barbershop owners ask Newsom to let them work outside

Hairstylists and barbers are asking Gov. Gavin Newsom to change a state regulation that prohibits them from working outdoors.

On Monday, Newsom signed an order that closed indoor services across a number of industries — including salon and barbershop services — in 30 hard-hit counties on the governor’s watch list, affecting 80% of Californians and seven out of the nine Bay Area counties.

The order specified that indoor services for these businesses had to close, leaving the door open for outdoor services to continue.

But hairstylists and barbers are subject to section 7317 of the Business and Professions Code, which requires “all barbering, cosmetology and electology services be performed in a licensed establishment,” according to the California State Board of Barbering & Cosmetology.

And on Monday, the board issued a statement saying that “establishments that are within the specified counties must close immediately and not offer any services (including any outdoor services).”

Now hairstylists and barbers are calling on Newsom to change section 7317 of the code. They are represented by a letter signed by Assemblymember Jim Patterson, R-Fresno, and Fred Jones, legal counsel for the Professional Beauty Federation of California, which represents 3,000 duespaying members.

There’s a precedent for pandemic-related changes, the letter argues. The California Alcohol Beverage Control’s Temporary Catering Authorization allows restaurants and bars to create an outdoor area to serve food and alcohol, and earlier this year, state regulators loosened restrictions on cannabis dispensaries and restaurants serving alcohol to make it easier for them to weather the effects of COVID-19 on their industries.

“If you can waive rule after rule after rule for taking booze outside, you can let these people take their business outside,” said Patterson, who had a virtual news conference with Jones and salon owners to discuss the letter.

California Department of Consumer Affairs spokesperson Cheri Gyuro said that the Board of Barbering & Cosmetology “understands the effect shutdowns have on businesses and is sensitive to that.”

“As it stands at this moment, under current laws and regulations, the services cannot be performed outside. However, we are looking deeply into this issue, and we’re exploring options,” Gyuro said.

Over Zoom, salon owners shared their stories, warning that the latest round of closures could be devastating to their industry if they’re not able

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