Hermosa Beach Officials Reject Tattoo Parlors

As trendy as Hermosa Beach may be, the tattoo craze will not be coming to town.

The City Council this week voted not to allow tattoo parlors to open in the city because council members felt it was not the type of business they wanted to see come to town.

“I just don’t believe it would be perceived as a pro-business measure the way Hermosa is going,” said Councilman Sam Edgerton, who was one of three members who voted against the proposal. “A lot of people who are starting to invest in Hermosa are looking for a perceived upscale business development.”

Mayor Julie Oakes also opposed the proposal even though she said she believes tattoos are fine.

“I personally don’t have a problem with people wanting tattoos,” the mayor said. “In a city as huge as the metropolitan area of Los Angeles, each community can tailor itself to what it wants. Unfortunately, the perception of society at this point is that tattoo parlors tend to degrade the value of a community.”

Hermosa Beach joins a handful of South Bay beach communities that don’t allow tattoo parlors. The cities include Torrance, Redondo Beach and Manhattan Beach. Because few beach communities have tattoo establishments, Hermosa Beach officials felt that it would have a flood of such places coming to the city.

The council voted on the issue after Kari Barba of Redondo Beach requested opening a tattoo parlor similar to the one she owns in Anaheim. Last year, a similar request was made by another tattoo artist, but it was denied.

Councilman John Bowler voted to break down the barriers and let tattoo parlors in because they are like any other business.

“We all start out with the perception that people who wear tattoos are sailors, truckers or bikers. But anyone who has walked down the Strand realizes that an enormous amount of people are wearing tattoos from all walks of life,” Bowler said. “But it’s tough for an elected official to stand up and admit that.”