Sinema: Salons, others can now benefit from coronavirus business resources
Apr 3, 2020, 7:00 PM
A typically busy downtown Phoenix Wednesday, April 1, 2020 is mostly idle during the first full day of Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey's stay-at-home order to slow the spread of the new coronavirus. (AP Photo/Matt York)
(AP Photo/Matt York)
PHOENIX – After Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey amended his essential businesses order on Friday, U.S. Sen. Kyrsten Sinema said those affected will be able to get the financial support they need during the coronavirus outbreak.
“It’s hard to say to someone, ‘You have to close down your business for the time being,’ but when we remember that we’re doing it to save lives, then I think more folks will understand how important it is that we take this action,” Sinema told KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Gaydos and Chad on Friday.
Sinema had called on Ducey for three weeks to adjust his list of essential businesses.
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Ducey announced additional guidance for essential businesses on Friday. It shut down salons, barber shops, tanning salons, tattoo parlors, spas and massage parlors effective April 4 at 5 p.m. Amenities at public parks that don’t allow proper physical distancing, communal pools and swap meets will also be shut down.
Sinema said with the change in guidelines, businesses can gain access to help with rent and managing their businesses during the outbreak.
“Now that we’ve acknowledged that a mani-pedi is not an essential service in a global pandemic, these folks can apply for and get the same business relief as all the other businesses that are suffering right now in this economic downturn,” Sinema said.
The initial round of relief passed by the White House last week includes forgivable small business loans and a paycheck protection program.
While it’s unknown how long the coronavirus will shut down the economy, Sinema said she’s in the process of working on the next package of coronavirus aid.
“We know it’s going to take some time, and we know businesses are going to need more help than just the next eight weeks,” Sinema said.
She said she’s consistently been on the phone with business leaders, first responders, manufacturers, mayors and others to hear about what they’ll need in the next package.
“Our businesses and our families and our workers that are out of a job, they can’t wait month to month for us to do this. They need us to act soon.”
