This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/10/us/nail-salons-reopen-ca-coronavirus.html

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Nail Salons Haven’t Reopened. Workers Hope That Will Change. California Barber Shops Have Reopened. Nail Salons Are Still Waiting
(about 5 hours later)
Good morning.Good morning.
(Don’t already get California Today delivered to your inbox? Here’s the sign-up.)(Don’t already get California Today delivered to your inbox? Here’s the sign-up.)
A couple weeks ago, Gov. Gavin Newsom showed off a new haircut and announced — much to the delight of shaggy Californians — that salons in many counties could reopen.A couple weeks ago, Gov. Gavin Newsom showed off a new haircut and announced — much to the delight of shaggy Californians — that salons in many counties could reopen.
From the early days of the state’s shutdown, health officials made clear the particular risks in salons and barber shops, where services require close personal contact and take place indoors. Nail salons fell under that category.From the early days of the state’s shutdown, health officials made clear the particular risks in salons and barber shops, where services require close personal contact and take place indoors. Nail salons fell under that category.
But as the state has released guidelines for reopening more and more businesses, nail salons have been notably absent.But as the state has released guidelines for reopening more and more businesses, nail salons have been notably absent.
[Read more about California’s reopening process.][Read more about California’s reopening process.]
As The Los Angeles Times reported, an unsubstantiated comment by Mr. Newsom in early May tying the first community-spread coronavirus case to a nail salon was a gut punch for largely small, immigrant-owned businesses that were already reeling.As The Los Angeles Times reported, an unsubstantiated comment by Mr. Newsom in early May tying the first community-spread coronavirus case to a nail salon was a gut punch for largely small, immigrant-owned businesses that were already reeling.
Now, salon owners and industry advocates say they’re still waiting for the state to give the green light.Now, salon owners and industry advocates say they’re still waiting for the state to give the green light.
“I’m worrying more and more,” Lan-Anh Truong, an Alameda nail salon owner, told me recently.“I’m worrying more and more,” Lan-Anh Truong, an Alameda nail salon owner, told me recently.
On Tuesday, Jesse Melgar, the governor’s press secretary, said in a statement that Mr. Newsom’s office was continuing to talk with industry stakeholders about reopening, “with a focus on public health and safety.”On Tuesday, Jesse Melgar, the governor’s press secretary, said in a statement that Mr. Newsom’s office was continuing to talk with industry stakeholders about reopening, “with a focus on public health and safety.”
David Chiu, a San Francisco state assemblyman who has been involved in those conversations, told me that the nail salon industry was “emblematic of the incredible gulf in our economy.”David Chiu, a San Francisco state assemblyman who has been involved in those conversations, told me that the nail salon industry was “emblematic of the incredible gulf in our economy.”
And he said the pain for immigrant nail salon workers and entrepreneurs — most of whom are women of Asian descent — illustrated the ways the pandemic has especially hurt communities that were already vulnerable.And he said the pain for immigrant nail salon workers and entrepreneurs — most of whom are women of Asian descent — illustrated the ways the pandemic has especially hurt communities that were already vulnerable.
“These are workers and nail salon owners who have always been truly struggling,” he said. “Covid-19 has shone a bright spotlight on how challenging that struggle is.”“These are workers and nail salon owners who have always been truly struggling,” he said. “Covid-19 has shone a bright spotlight on how challenging that struggle is.”
According to a 2018 report by the U.C.L.A. Labor Center, in partnership with the California Healthy Nail Salon Collaborative, almost 80 percent of nail salon workers are foreign born, and almost 80 percent are considered low wage, compared with 33 percent of workers across the U.S. economy.According to a 2018 report by the U.C.L.A. Labor Center, in partnership with the California Healthy Nail Salon Collaborative, almost 80 percent of nail salon workers are foreign born, and almost 80 percent are considered low wage, compared with 33 percent of workers across the U.S. economy.
Almost three-quarters of California’s licensed manicurists are Vietnamese-Americans.Almost three-quarters of California’s licensed manicurists are Vietnamese-Americans.
That, the report explains, is because the 1975 fall of Saigon and the subsequent wave of Vietnamese refugees’ arrival in the United States coincided with changes that made manicures more widely accessible for middle-class women.That, the report explains, is because the 1975 fall of Saigon and the subsequent wave of Vietnamese refugees’ arrival in the United States coincided with changes that made manicures more widely accessible for middle-class women.
The job didn’t require English proficiency, and opening salons required relatively little start-up capital.The job didn’t require English proficiency, and opening salons required relatively little start-up capital.
Diedre Thu-Ha Nguyen, a Garden Grove City Council member, recalled how her mother and her friends helped one another get work as manicurists after they fled Vietnam.Diedre Thu-Ha Nguyen, a Garden Grove City Council member, recalled how her mother and her friends helped one another get work as manicurists after they fled Vietnam.
At the time, Ms. Nguyen said her mother would leave early in the morning from Orange County to drive to salons in San Bernardino to work, before returning home late in the evening.At the time, Ms. Nguyen said her mother would leave early in the morning from Orange County to drive to salons in San Bernardino to work, before returning home late in the evening.
Many manicurists still work seven days a week. But Ms. Nguyen said the industry had changed since she was a girl. It’s become more stable and safer for workers, who use less harsh chemicals.Many manicurists still work seven days a week. But Ms. Nguyen said the industry had changed since she was a girl. It’s become more stable and safer for workers, who use less harsh chemicals.
The coronavirus pandemic, however, has plunged many of her constituents into precarious financial straits. She said she’s heard from manicurists struggling to make rent or pay for their children’s medical care.The coronavirus pandemic, however, has plunged many of her constituents into precarious financial straits. She said she’s heard from manicurists struggling to make rent or pay for their children’s medical care.
“The workers depend on the daily wage,” she said. And language barriers have made it more difficult for some to access unemployment insurance or relief loans.“The workers depend on the daily wage,” she said. And language barriers have made it more difficult for some to access unemployment insurance or relief loans.
[Read about which workers are most at risk of unemployment in the pandemic, and what that says about California’s economy.][Read about which workers are most at risk of unemployment in the pandemic, and what that says about California’s economy.]
Ms. Nguyen said she hoped that any aid packages would include funds for small businesses like nail salons to buy plexiglass partitions or other equipment that might be necessary to allow them to reopen safely.Ms. Nguyen said she hoped that any aid packages would include funds for small businesses like nail salons to buy plexiglass partitions or other equipment that might be necessary to allow them to reopen safely.
For Ms. Truong, the salon owner in Alameda, the shutdown has been a much longer ordeal than anticipated.For Ms. Truong, the salon owner in Alameda, the shutdown has been a much longer ordeal than anticipated.
“When they first said, ‘Shelter in place,’ I thought it might be two weeks,” she said.“When they first said, ‘Shelter in place,’ I thought it might be two weeks,” she said.
Her salon, the first in Alameda County to earn a healthy nail salon designation, has been in the same place for more than 20 years. She was hoping to remodel, but that’s now on hold.Her salon, the first in Alameda County to earn a healthy nail salon designation, has been in the same place for more than 20 years. She was hoping to remodel, but that’s now on hold.
She’s worried about paying the roughly $3,000 per month on rent once the salon reopens at reduced capacity. She hasn’t been able to pay employees.She’s worried about paying the roughly $3,000 per month on rent once the salon reopens at reduced capacity. She hasn’t been able to pay employees.
And she’s concerned about adapting to a whole new set of challenges: The costs of supplies like hand sanitizer and alcohol have gone up. She’ll have to rely on customers keeping their appointments and won’t be able to accept walk-ins, which made up about half of her business before.And she’s concerned about adapting to a whole new set of challenges: The costs of supplies like hand sanitizer and alcohol have gone up. She’ll have to rely on customers keeping their appointments and won’t be able to accept walk-ins, which made up about half of her business before.
“I know my business won’t look like before,” Ms. Truong said.“I know my business won’t look like before,” Ms. Truong said.
Nevertheless, she said, she’s been heartened by support from regular customers.Nevertheless, she said, she’s been heartened by support from regular customers.
“They buy gift certificates,” she said. “I appreciate that, but I don’t want to bother them — it’s hard times for any family.”“They buy gift certificates,” she said. “I appreciate that, but I don’t want to bother them — it’s hard times for any family.”
[See coronavirus cases in California by county.][See coronavirus cases in California by county.]
We often link to sites that limit access for nonsubscribers. We appreciate your reading Times coverage, but we also encourage you to support local news if you can.We often link to sites that limit access for nonsubscribers. We appreciate your reading Times coverage, but we also encourage you to support local news if you can.
As the state scrambled to prepare for the coronavirus pandemic, California contracted with an array of vendors — many of whom have since raised red flags — in no-bid deals. [CalMatters]As the state scrambled to prepare for the coronavirus pandemic, California contracted with an array of vendors — many of whom have since raised red flags — in no-bid deals. [CalMatters]
Over the past decade, police officers in Los Angeles County have killed roughly 45 people per year. Almost all were men, almost 80 percent were black or Latino, and almost all of them were shot to death. [The Los Angeles Times]Over the past decade, police officers in Los Angeles County have killed roughly 45 people per year. Almost all were men, almost 80 percent were black or Latino, and almost all of them were shot to death. [The Los Angeles Times]
The California Highway Patrol officially identified Erik Salgado as the 23-year-old man whom officers shot to death over the weekend after they said he started ramming C.H.P. vehicles with a stolen car. Mr. Salgado’s pregnant girlfriend was also injured. [The Mercury News]The California Highway Patrol officially identified Erik Salgado as the 23-year-old man whom officers shot to death over the weekend after they said he started ramming C.H.P. vehicles with a stolen car. Mr. Salgado’s pregnant girlfriend was also injured. [The Mercury News]
Although thousands of San Diego residents flooded City Hall with phone calls and emails to redirect spending on the police to other things, City Council members increased funding. [The San Diego Union-Tribune]Although thousands of San Diego residents flooded City Hall with phone calls and emails to redirect spending on the police to other things, City Council members increased funding. [The San Diego Union-Tribune]
If you missed it, here’s what to know about calls to defund the police. [The New York Times]If you missed it, here’s what to know about calls to defund the police. [The New York Times]
Orange County’s chief health officer resigned after being severely criticized and threatened over her order requiring facial coverings in public. Los Angeles and San Diego Counties had similar orders in place, but some members of the county’s board of supervisors also pushed back. [City News Service]Orange County’s chief health officer resigned after being severely criticized and threatened over her order requiring facial coverings in public. Los Angeles and San Diego Counties had similar orders in place, but some members of the county’s board of supervisors also pushed back. [City News Service]
The gap between the success of food delivery apps like Grubhub and Caviar, and the pain of the restaurants is striking. [The New York Times]The gap between the success of food delivery apps like Grubhub and Caviar, and the pain of the restaurants is striking. [The New York Times]
Juneteenth is a continuation of the legacy of resilience, and a reminder of a people’s ongoing anguish. So, many black Americans will feast and claim joy, which itself can be a kind of resistance. Here’s what that looks like for black chefs around the country, including in Los Angeles. [The New York Times]Juneteenth is a continuation of the legacy of resilience, and a reminder of a people’s ongoing anguish. So, many black Americans will feast and claim joy, which itself can be a kind of resistance. Here’s what that looks like for black chefs around the country, including in Los Angeles. [The New York Times]
How do you feed crowds in a protest? Keep health care workers nourished? Ask Sikhs, for whom serving those in need is built into their faith. [The New York Times]How do you feed crowds in a protest? Keep health care workers nourished? Ask Sikhs, for whom serving those in need is built into their faith. [The New York Times]
California Today goes live at 6:30 a.m. Pacific time weekdays. Tell us what you want to see: CAtoday@nytimes.com. Were you forwarded this email? Sign up for California Today here and read every edition online here.California Today goes live at 6:30 a.m. Pacific time weekdays. Tell us what you want to see: CAtoday@nytimes.com. Were you forwarded this email? Sign up for California Today here and read every edition online here.
Jill Cowan grew up in Orange County, went to school at U.C. Berkeley and has reported all over the state, including the Bay Area, Bakersfield and Los Angeles — but she always wants to see more. Follow along here or on Twitter.Jill Cowan grew up in Orange County, went to school at U.C. Berkeley and has reported all over the state, including the Bay Area, Bakersfield and Los Angeles — but she always wants to see more. Follow along here or on Twitter.
California Today is edited by Julie Bloom, who grew up in Los Angeles and graduated from U.C. Berkeley.California Today is edited by Julie Bloom, who grew up in Los Angeles and graduated from U.C. Berkeley.