In the bleak shores of Gulf Shores, situated in Alabama, USA, a major decision has laid the lives of several body artists and other tattoo craftsmen in a wild state of confusion. The City Council, during the tenure of last week’s session has very responsibly “forgotten” to discuss the agenda of the allocation of land and area to tattoo shops and other such ventures. This move, at the same time has also allowed the city’s Planning Staff to mobilize some more time for the consideration of bringing within this decision’s jurisdiction, other shops of a similar nature, such as pawn shops and cash lending services, rather businesses. In this way, the purposeful delay of the City Council is only to bring other immoral and possibly illegal businesses within the ambit of its restrictions. The city’s Mayor, Robert Craft has admittedly commented on the topic, that there is talk going on for the differentiation of such shops from the to and fro of other places of businesses and work. Since these works are of a different nature, there is a very serious, necessity to compartmentalize such businesses, so as to keep the collateral effects of such places of business away from the hustle and bustle of other places of public inhabitation.
In addition to all of these restrictions, there has been further insult to injury on the part of the City Council. The new regulations that are soon to follow will compel the tattoo businesses, not to operate within the vicinity of less than 1000 feet of other businesses of a similar nature. Moreover, the minimum distance that has to be maintained, when it comes to constructing such places of business within the radar of public institutions such as schools, colleges or parks, is not to be less than 500 feet, at the very minimum.
However, it’s a bonanza, as the City Council hurls insult after insult at the body art industry. With the new decisions passed, there has been a restriction passed on the issuing of new licenses, for at least a period of 120 days. Thus, within the range of this time period, no new tattoo businesses can be set up in any part of the city. What is more, other Baldwin county cities such as Orange Beach, Fairhope and Spanish Fort and Daphne have also issued similar memorandums to take stringent steps and necessary action against the setting up of such body art shops and pawning activities.
