November 13, 2020

Dear Dr. Ghaly,

On behalf of the California Small Fitness Facilities Association, representing 100+ small fitness facilities in Sacramento and across the State of California, we are writing to request the state re-evaluate the restrictions put upon Sacramento County businesses in the most restrictive COVID-19 tier (Purple). 

Our Ask: Purple Tier Amendment for Small Fitness Studios

We ask the state to amend the tiered system to allow small fitness studios to operate indoors at 10% capacity under the purple tier.

Our Why: Data shows Fitness Studios are not the source of COVID-19 cases

The majority of the fitness studios we represent are located in Sacramento County. According to Sacramento County Health Services, our County’s increase in positive COVID-19 cases has been tied directly to holidays, large family gatherings and nursing homes—not with small fitness studios. In fact, none of our members have seen a single case of spread at our studios due to our operational modifications that have been created with our County Health Department, and our members have put in place systems that are even more stringent than the State requirements. 

Small fitness studios are micro businesses that primarily specialize in small group and private training, and have been one of the most severely impacted industries by the shut downs of the last nine months.

Using the health and safety standards put in place by state, local and industry leaders, we ask that small fitness studios be afforded the same opportunity to operate at a 10% indoor capacity in the purple tier, as has been done in the red tier, and most recently afforded to other indoor operating industries. Not only do we operate with the most stringent standards when it comes to our mask policy, social distancing, and sanitization, but for many clients, instructor-based exercise is a post-injury rehabilitation protocol prescribed by a doctor or physical therapist and for many it’s an essential part of their mental health. 

As you also know, since March small fitness studios were only authorized to operate indoors (with a 90% reduction of capacity) for only two months out of the last nine, while being forced to shut down indoor operations completely during the other seven months. Of the small fitness facilities that we have surveyed from our 100+ database, most small fitness facility owners continue to see a decrease of monthly revenue of 60% - 80% percent over the last nine months. Now that we are going into the colder months and moving into our ninth month of no operation, shutting our doors completely for weeks or months on end, is an unthinkable option. 

Having to meet our usual expenses and large rents for brick and mortar locations that we are required to pay or face eviction, more than 50% of the small fitness facilities surveyed are on the brink of shutting down permanently. The livelihoods of small business owners as well as thousands of local jobs for the small fitness economy are at stake. 

Governor Newsom and public health leaders have repeatedly stated that their guidance and decision-making process is based on science and the data. Sacramento County’s data is clearly linking transmission to private gatherings. Disregarding this information penalizes small businesses like ours that have gone above and beyond to ensure a safe and healthy experience. Moreover, it is apparent that the latest amendment to the tier system allowed other indoor based industries to continue to operate, while leaving us behind with no path forward.

Thank you for your leadership on this. We ask that you work with our 100+ small fitness community to ensure we protect the public’s health and allow for the survival of our small, locally owned businesses.

Sincerely,

Maria Bardet, Co-Founder, CA Small Fitness Facilities Association

Erica Castillo, Co-Founder, CA Small Fitness Facilities Association

Support List

Michael Ault, Executive Director, Downtown Sacramento Partnership

Emily Baime Michaels, Executive Director, Midtown Association 

9 Round (10 locations in Sac. County)

Action Fitness Community

ASAP Fitness - CrossFit

Auburn Pilates

Breathing Space

Club Pilates

Cycle Life

DOMA Studio

East Sac Fitness

Erica Auld Training

Empowered Body Pilates

EVO Training Collective

Fitness Rangers

Her Elevated

Hyperthrive Athletics

Humani Pilates 

Innovative Strength and Conditioning

Inspired Wellness

Keep Moving Mama

Leap Yoga

Levels Functional Fitness

My Yoga Room

Orange Theory - Midtown, Folsom, El Dorado Hills, Vacaville

Pasifika Strength & Conditioning

Pilates Institute of Southern CA

Premier Fencing Academy

Pure Barre Sacramento

Pure Barre Midtown

Pure Barre El Dorado Hills

Pure Barre Pavilions

Pure Barre Berkeley

Pure Barre Napa

Purely Hot Yoga

Rev Cycle

Rio City CrossFit

Training Mate Studios

Solfire Yoga

Sweat Cycle

Switch Fitness

TEAMride

The Dailey Method Arden Park 

Training Mate Studios

Tri Park Strength

TruClmb

Uplift Hot Yoga

Urban Yogi

Yoga Loka

Zuda Yoga Sacramento

Zuda Yoga Folsom & Roseville