A group called the Oregon Hands On Collective organized a petition calling for personal services like salons to close during the first phase of Oregon’s reopening. So far, over 9974 people have signed it since the petition’s launch in early May. But, not everyone agrees, and there is countervailing petition with far more signatures.
Petition to stay closed: According to Hands On Collective petition organizer Amanda Thornton “Social distancing of 6 feet is mandatory between clients and employees, which we clearly know to be impossible when personal care services require personal touch, putting the service providers health at risk as well as the client.”
The Oregon Hands On Collective describes themselves as “an action group dedicated to protecting the health and financial security of hands-on professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Members include hairstylists, Waxers, Nail technicians, licensed massage therapists, and others. They maintain that reopening puts their own and their clients’ health at risk. The restrictions also increase their business overhead costs. They also seek funding to help “re-open and sustain the industry.” Their petition can be found at Change.org.
Not everyone shares their opinion or agrees on how to best handle the reopening of salons, spas and other personal service businesses.
Petition to reopen: Kara Owen launched a different petition in April, it can be found on Moveon.org, and over 37,000 people signed that one. This petition calls for salons to be allowed to be open providing they allow one client at a time among other precautions. The phase one reopening requirements are similar to the actual phase one requirements now in effect.
Meanwhile, other salon owners like Lindsey Graham of Salem who defied the governor’s Executive Order and reopened in early May. Graham incurred a $14,000 fine.
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