Elected officials joined a news conference Thursday afternoon to show support for local salons and other businesses that have been shuttered by state lockdown orders.
San Joaquin County Supervisor Tom Patti and state Assemblyman Carlos Villapudua joined Pomp Salon co-owner Dino Ballin and Fred Jones of the Professional Beauty Federation of California at Ballin’s salon located in Lincoln Center in north Stockton.
Ballin is one of many business owners in the region who have remained defiant against sweeping lockdown orders that went into effect last month for most of California as intensive care unit capacity dropped dramatically due to increased COVID-19 infections following the Thanksgiving holiday.
One of Ballin’s salons was raided last month by the California Department of Consumer Affairs after he refused to close. Pomp Salon has also joined a federal lawsuit challenging the state shutdown orders that Jones said will likely be filed early next week. Ballin says he has closed his salons on advice from his attorneys while the lawsuit moves ahead.
“We should be allowed to open because, when you balance risks with the safety of being in this establishment, it’s proven that there is no risk,” Ballin said. …
Cassie Dickman 