Tattoo parlor fight goes on
September 25, 1991
It’s not over till it’s over and the tattoo saga definitely is not.
A sign on Murphy’s former store in DeKalb states “Skin of a Different Color tattooing has moved to 1572 DeKalb Avenue,” which is located in Sycamore.
The sign also states he will be reopening for business today.
Murphy approached the Sycamore City Council, but did not pursue the matter, Sycamore City Clerk Gail Brantner said.
Brantner said it would not be possible for Murphy to open the business without the Sycamore City Council knowing. Murphy would need to get a variance in order to legally open the business, Brantner said.
The battle began when the DeKalb City Council passed an ordinance banning tattooing in DeKalb in late April.
The ordinance was spurred by a tattoo parlor located in downtown DeKalb.
Craig Murphy, owner of “Skin of a Different Color,” formerly located on 345 W. Lincoln Hwy., launched a campaign against the city to keep his tattoo parlor on Lincoln Highway.
Murphy decided to take his case to the court saying his constitutional rights had been violated. An injunction went into effect because the April ordinance had to be rewritten because Judge Douglas Engel “felt the definition of tattooing was too broad,” City Manager Mark Stevens said.
A new ordinance was passed at the May 28 city council meeting and is currently in effect. The ordinance went into effect June 6.
In a previous interview, Attorney Carl Stevens of the Law Offices of Edward Diedrich said the next step might be to try for a declaratory judgement, which would rule the ordinance unconstitutional.
Murphy, however, said he was not able to appeal the last decision to uphold the ordinance because of his lawyer, Diedrich.
Murphy then relocated to Rochelle, although he said it was temporary and he would fight the city to remain in DeKalb.
Murphy was unavailable for comment.