Will Albany’s Carping Create More Jobs?

The toes of New York’s men and women are safe from fishy pedicures, thanks to the New York State assembly.

While unemployment rates hover above 9 percent in New York State, and jobless claims begin rising again the New York legislature’s Committee on Economic Development, Job Creation, Commerce and Industry made its first act in 2010 one to remember: it banned the use of carp or any fish in pedicure procedures.

The Committee on Economic Development, Job Creation, Commerce and Industry is tasked with finding ways to improve New York’s business climate and overall economic health.

“These clowns need to be taken into a dark room and shaken around a little bit,” said Assemblyman Greg Ball, “We are hemorrhaging thousands of jobs, foreclosures are mounting, and this is their priority?”

The bill A9202 and the accompanying senate bill S6205 ban the use of carp to suck dead skin off the toes of pedicure customers. Violators can expect up to $250 in fines. As justification, the lawmakers cited a 2008 instance where a beauty salon in Alexandria, Va., used carp in its “fish pedicure” procedure.

“In this procedure, customers place their feet in a tank filled with small fish. The fish proceed to eat the dead flaky skin of the feet, which supposedly leads to smoother skin,” the bill’s text reads, before adding, “This procedure does not conform with the spirit of current standards of hygiene and sanitation at beauty enhancement businesses in New York State.”

But Ball sees the measure as a waste of time in the current economic climate: “We’d be better off if 90 percent of these members were replaced by carp,” he said.