Okay, maybe I was a little preemptive with that question. A quick Google search has revealed to me that Tarrytown is located in New York state, in the town of Greenburgh, Westchester County. The population hovers just over eleven thousand and as of right now, there are no tattoo studios there. In fact, tattoos have been against the law there as of 1993 in order to “curb instances of hepatitis transmission.” 1993 was a long time ago and things really have changed since then. It might seem that Tarrytown’s laws on tattoo are a little backward, but let’s just keep in mind that tattoo was also illegal in a little town by the name of New York City until 1997. When you take that into consideration, it’s easier to understand how such anti-tattoo feelings could spread within the state itself.
This is all set to change however, if tattooist Chuk Högnell gets his way. Högnell is making a bid to open and run Tarrytown’s very first tattoo studio, The Mighty Horseman. He’s been working in the tattoo industry for thirteen years now and he feels that the time is now right to bring tattoo to Tarrytown.
‘”It’s an art form like any other and there are a lot of art galleries on Main Street,” he said. “There is a lot of art and culture happening here now and I want to be part of that in this town.”‘
It looks as though Högnell is going to get his chance to try and convince the Tarrytown powers that be that tattooing is exactly what the town needs. Starting tonight at 8pm, there will be a public town meeting to discuss the issue of allowing tattoo studios to open their doors in the town.
‘”Regulatory measures have proved ineffective in eliminating this health risk because of the inability to supervise tattooing establishments at all time,” states the Village Code.
For this reason, the code was amended to make it “unlawful for any person to tattoo a human being within the Village of Tarrytown, except that tattooing may be performed for medical purposes…”
However, a lot has changed since 1993. Tattooing is much more widespread, and has less of a stigma. There are also more stringent health regulations, although none are on the books in Westchester County.’
I hope all goes well in Tarrytown tonight for Chuk Högnell and that in a short matter of time he’ll be opening the doors to Tarrytown’s first and only tattoo studio, The Might Horseman. Best of luck, Chuk!