To our community,

First, I just wanted to take a moment to tell you how much we at Georgia Louise have missed operating the past few months as the lockdown has continued to affect personal care services that require clients to remove their masks in Los Angeles. This is a mandate which is absolutely contradictory to all the other industries who have continued to operate safely during closures, in addition to the fact that you’re currently able to book other spa services, such as manicures and hair appointments.

You may recall that I was an activist in the fight to re-open spas and esthetician services in the state of New York. My petition to re-open, which was sent to Governor Cuomo’s office, received over 1,700 signatures. This petition, along with a stunning article in Vogue, led to estheticians across the state being allowed to re-open after months of lockdowns, which forced closure on far too many.

Since that re-opening, there has not been a single case of COVID-19 spread linked to spas or other facial services in the state of New York, as reported by the CDC.

I now feel that I absolutely must turn my attention to Los Angeles and I’m asking for your help once again.

As you may have already heard, Governor Newsom rescinded his order and allowed personal care establishments to open up once again on January 28th of this year. However, in the same breath, he arbitrarily announced that he will not allow businesses like ours, ones which facial and skin care services to reopen, as he had previously indicated.

That is why I’m asking that you join me and my fellow salon and spa business owners, clients, friends and communities in supporting a petition to Governor Newsom. We are asking together in one voice that he reconsider this decision to keep our businesses closed and allow us to reopen with our PPE protocols at a reduced occupancy, like every other business in the personal care industry. This is not something I ask lightly, but after much reflection and planning I feel it is necessary to take action.

At Georgia Louise, as well as other facial and skin care businesses across the city, our business models allow us to protect both our clients and our employees far better than other businesses that have already been allowed to reopen. As many of you know, we do not have huge amounts of customers coming in and out of the Atelier, nor do we have people lingering and congregating together, which would encourage viral spread.

What we do have is the ability to bring each and every one of our clients in individually to areas which are separated from others. We will take the temperatures of our employees prior to their shift and your temperature at the door to ensure your safety, as well as ours. In addition, the protective PPE and face shields allow us to safely conduct facial and skin care services according to state law.

There is truly no reason why our businesses should be forced to remain closed – a move that could mean the end for many of us. That is why I have drafted a letter to Governor Newsom asking that he reconsider and allow us to safely reopen immediately. Now, I fervently ask that you sign the attached petition, so that he can see that we all – businesses and clients alike – stand together in making this request.

Sincerely,

Georgia Louise Vassanelli