BROOKLYN (VINnews/Sandy Eller) – Picasso wannabees who live in COVID hotspots can now indulge their artistic abilities in a pair of Brooklyn pottery studios which have rescinded a ban preventing residents of eight local zip codes from entering their premises.
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Lisa Mendoza, owner of The Painted Pot studios in Cobble Hill and Park Slope, apologized yesterday on social media for an email that informed customers in Brooklyn’s 11223, 11230, 11210, 11219, 11204, 11229, 11218 and 11234 zip codes that they would only be able to purchase “Pottery To Go” kits because of the recent COVID spike. That policy resulted in a deluge of calls that had The Painted Pot turning off its phones and Mendoza said that she had received messages saying “What do you have against Jewish people?” and “This isn’t Nazi Germany and people won’t stand for it.”
An employee who answered the phone today at The Painted Pot said that all guests were welcome no matter where they lived subject to temperature checks at the door. The Painted Pot’s website asks all customers to wear masks and to wash their hands upon arrival and before using any supplies. Mendoza said that her staff of 11 has had difficulty getting customers to keep their masks on while painting.
NBC News (https://bit.ly/36EVZef) reported that Mendoza said that her decision had been intended as a protective measure and not a discriminatory one.
“The fear was my staff getting ill,” said Mendoza. “We all have compromised immune systems, asthma, cancer unfortunately, MS.”
In her social media apology, Mendoza said that she had taken guidance from the city, a decision she now regrets.
“WE have no idea how to work with this virus and it’s based on fear,” wrote Mendoza. “Our leadership has failed and I was trying to look to them for guidance which obviously was not the best advise.”
Asking customers to appreciate the difficulties of running a business during a pandemic, Mendoza’s apology also included an offer to paint a free mug in studio to anyone who took offense to her email.
I’m one person who experienced this, and my second generation holocaust experiential was triggered. I am glad to notice the owners sincere apology.
Good to see that they are willing to own up to their mistakes. Not double down, people should forgive and go there with their children. Great Chol Hamoed activity
This is actually a good story. It debunks the notion that if Yidden speak up it causes aiva/chillul Hashem. Total liberal apikursus garbage. I give the owners a lot of credit for doing what’s right. I will try to get others to patronize that location.