One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Put a Tattoo Parlor in Los Alamitos, all Hell Will Break Loose
Photo by Lou O'Bedlam via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr
If you live in Los Alamitos, and you're contemplating getting some ink done, a rubdown, or some permanent eyeliner put on, think outside the lines. As in, outside the city lines, since the Los Alamitos City Council "voted last night to extend a 45-day moratorium on new tattoo parlors, permanent make-up salons and massage services until September 2011," according to the OC Register.Right now there actually aren't any tattoo parlors within the city limits; the moratorium was prompted by a recent inquiry from a prospective business who was considering opening up there.
Why the anti-body art sentiment? A city report attests: "In other cities, tattoo parlors have increased crime in surrounding areas and, without proper regulation, could lead to unsanitary conditions and diseases transmitted by needles." The big fear is that having tattoo parlors, massage parlors, and permanent make-up shops "will lead to (the) deterioration of the City of Los Alamitos and would result in a current and immediate threat to the public health, safety, or welfare," of its residents.
The moratorium was designed to give officials time to consider the first amendment issues of the ban. Hermosa Beach also recently considered a similar ban.
One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
