Linda Leinweber: Shears to You Salon

“With cancer patients, many of my clients do some monthly attachments for their hair replacement. So after a month, when they need to have it reattached, they have no way of doing it themselves. They’re really on edge.

“Many of these people work, they need to go to work, they need to look professional.

“I’ve been trying to figure out a way to deliver a lot of orders safely to them – whether that’s door-to-door or let them come pick them up. It’s hard to know how far they want to go, so we let them decide. We just want to let clients know we’re there for them because they’re like, ‘What do we do?’ and there’s nothing we really can do.

“Had I had a couple days or a week’s notice, I would’ve called all my clients that were due to come in. I would’ve worked till midnight to get them done. I had no idea we’d have to shut down (through April 7).

“My stylists are all independent contractors. We’ve been around for about 40 years, and we all need a little extra income in this day and age.

“I was scared we’d have to shut down until the end of April. With rent, I’m okay for a couple months. I’m fortunate in that case, but it’s not just the rent. I have a double store so it’s two gas bills, two electric bills, two phone bills. Not only am I a sole proprietor, but I am also a single homeowner by myself. I’m sure I’m better off than some people, but it’s just hard on everybody. It will affect everybody.

“I don’t know if there’s going to be any kind of a check from the government – and certainly that would help – but honestly, I’d pass on the check to someone either in my staff or someone that needed it more than I do.

“My fear is what’s going to happen after. I’m so despondent about Illinois. I don’t want to move. My family’s here. I grew up here. But it’s so mismanaged I can hardly comprehend it.

“Taxes are my biggest concern: My property taxes. If there was some sort of property tax payment delay, that would be awesome. I know they’re not going to waive it, but hopefully a delay would allow people to catch up. And the income tax being delayed could help, too. Any little bit could help.

“After all of this, how could they possibly think people would vote for a progressive tax? But who saw this coming a month ago? I know I could leave the state if I want to, but I hope that doesn’t go through and I would be shocked if it does.”

Linda Leinweber
Oak Lawn, Illinois
Owner for 38 years of Shears to You Salon, specializing in custom hair replacement for cancer patients