CA Small Fitness Facilities Association Urges State Officials For A Purple Tier Amendment
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