Last night I went to the Planning Commission meeting to show my support for a special use application by Liquid Swordz Tattoos to move their establishment from 312 Perrin to 27 North Washington Street. There were about a dozen people who spoke in support of allowing the change. Only Mayor Farmer and another resident spoke out against it. Word on the street is the Mayor toned down her normally anti-tattoo position after Liquid Swordz received so much support. Current business owners, former business owners, landlords, community leaders, an Ypsilanti police officer, and I all voiced our support. The application was tabled until the Zoning Board of Appeals hears their case because they require a variance since they will be located within 500 feet of churches and residential space.

Moving Liquid Swordz downtown makes perfect sense. If you consider Washington Street to be Ypsilanti’s Entertainment District with such venues as The Elbow Room, Pub 13, Club Divine, TC’s Speakeasy, the Tap Room, and Deja Vu, what could be more perfect next to those than a tattoo parlor. The Fausts even plan to add gallery space to their establishment in an effort to continue promoting the arts. It’s brilliant.

The space has been empty for more than two years now. As much as it pains me to say it, people aren’t beating a path to Ypsilanti to open businesses. There just aren’t any more chain tax services in existence that can set up shop here. The City needs successful businesses like the Fausts’. For crissakes, this type of business plays right into the whole “Cool Cities” concept. The City and the Mayor walk a fine line of doublespeak bragging about the “Cool Cities” grant but at the same time trying to crush cool businesses that cater to the young kids.

I don’t have any tattoos because I think of my body as a temple and you wouldn’t paint the Taj Mahal, but if the City does the right thing and allows Liquid Swordz to move downtown, maybe, just maybe I’ll get a tattoo. At this moment, I’m leaning towards an elevator.