PDF Version of Letter

February 3, 2021

The Honorable Gavin Newsom
Governor, State of California State Capitol

Sacramento, CA 95814

Dear Governor Newsom:

We are writing with a request that you modify your COVID-19 Blueprint for a Safe Economy, as the current Limited Stay-Home Order is lifted in each region, to permit indoor operations for health clubs, gyms and fitness centers, at a reasonable level in every tier. Data has demonstrated that fitness centers, in compliance with the stringent public health orders and restrictions previously imposed on these essential businesses by the state and local public health officers and your office, can operate safely¹. Data and science support the need to give all Californians safe and equitable access to exercise for physical and mental health and to help minimize impact of COVID-19².

Evidenced-based data must be our guide when determining what policies are truly necessary to fight the spread of COVID-19. We also strongly believe that as new evidence emerges that run contrary to existing policies, we must adjust those policies. In the case of the current Blueprint restrictions on indoor operations for gyms and fitness centers, the evidence demonstrates a course correction is necessary now.

Nearly every other state has concluded upon actual experience and data gathered since last spring, there is no evidence that gyms and fitness centers operating in compliance with masking, distancing, and sanitizing requirements represent any significant transmission risk for COVID-19. As a result, fitness centers are now allowed to operate indoors in all tiers in all states except California³.

As you have said, fitness is essential in building and maintaining resistance to COVID and improving both physical and mental health, and we think you are right to urge Californians to make it a priority to get regular physical exercise. For most Californians, the fitness industry provides affordable and safe access to regular exercise as most Californians can’t afford a home gym and the cold and rain make working out outside challenging.  Closing indoor gyms makes access and continued fitness business operations a practical impossibility.

We understand that the California fitness industry, which employed more than 190,000 California workers pre-COVID, has been substantially without revenues for nearly a year as a result of full and partial closures mandated by state and local orders⁴. Several major companies have been forced out of business or into bankruptcy, few were eligible for any state or Federal economic relief, and nearly every worker has been furloughed or laid-off for months, some permanently. These businesses large and small now appear to be close to the point of no return.

For all of these reasons, we urge you to reconsider and revise upward the indoor operating occupancy restrictions for safe operation of gyms and fitness centers in all four Blueprint tiers and permit reopening in the Purple Tier at no less than 25% occupancy to ensure the survival of these essential California health and wellness businesses and access for millions of Californians who rely on them.

Sincerely,

Thurston “Smitty” Smith
Assemblymember, 33rd District

Brian Dahle
Senator, 1st District

Chad Mayes
Asssemblymember, 44th District

Jim Nielsen
Senator, 4th District

Laurie Davies
Assemblymember, 73rd District

Megan Dahle
Assemblymember, 1st District

Melissa Melendez
Senator, 28th District                                                                         

Scott Wilk
Senator, 21st District

Tom Lackey
Assemblymember, 63rd District                                                     

Devin Mathis
Assemblymember, 27th District

Vince Fong
Assemblymember, 34th District                                                     

Janet Nguyen
Assemblymember, 72nd District

Jordan Cunningham
Assemblymember, 35th District                                                     

Kelley Seyarto
Assemblymember, 67th District

Heath Flora
Assemblymember, 12th District