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FreeRepublic , LLC PO BOX 9771 FRESNO, CA 93794
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Posted on 01/15/2003 5:16:21 PM PST by haapse
Pueblo’s smoking ban is officially suspended. Opponents of the ban submitted enough signatures to the city clerk to challenge the ordinance. As of Wednesday afternoon it was suspended. Now it goes back to the city council. They have the option of repealing it, revising it, or sending it to voters for approval.
The Pueblo City Clerk verified 3,564 signatures on the petition drive, enough to reverse the no-smoking ordinance. City Clerk Gina Dutcher says, "We have notified the City/County health department to cease the enforcement of the ordinance by letter to Dr. Christine Nevin-Woods to suspend their enforcement."
The next city council meeting is January 27th. The ordinance will be reviewed then and possibly come up at another meeting for public discussion. But some businesses don’t care about the discussion. They are now permanently smoke free no matter what city council decides. Ruth McDonald of the Gold Dust Saloon says she likes her place smoke free. "When they come in they know they cannot smoke here. We may have to deal with a few situations. We are leaving the signs up on the doors and we'll have to explain we're not going to have smoking in our establishment any longer."
An assistant city manager says there is no timetable for when the city council needs to make a decision on the smoking ban. The city council’s schedule is such that a decision on the ban might not come until March or April.
Those who want the ban killed altogether are meeting Wednesday night to discuss their next move. They’re organizing to for what they expect will be a special election on the ban.
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FreeRepublic , LLC PO BOX 9771 FRESNO, CA 93794
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These bastards don't wanna to ban smoking, then I say withhold all federal monies till they do, they are either with us or with the terrorist. The voice of your Federal Government!
I'm on the puff list and didn't recieve a ping. Someone posted the other night that their ping didn't work ie *puff_list. They had to go back and paste the names in the To area. FYI
On this article, the people finally GOT their voice!
Florida's Ammendment against passed by something like 60-40.
Old article here
I believe that most of the people who voted for this ammendment don't frequent many restaurants, bars or taverns.
But that is excactly what smokers ever asked for, FREE CHOICE.
SARASOTA -- As smokers across Southwest Florida take their last public puffs, some restaurant owners are afraid they will be the ones who get burned.
On Tuesday, voters approved a constitutional amendment banning smoking in all enclosed workplaces, including restaurants. With 6,569 of 6,716 precincts reporting, Amendment 6 had captured 3,362,330 votes, or 71 percent.
"I thought it would pass when pigs fly," said Rob Caragiulo, owner of Caragiulo's restaurant and bar in Sarasota, "but apparently that happened yesterday, too."
Caragiulo was referring to another constitutional amendment passed by voters on Tuesday that will force pig farmers to use more humane methods of confining their livestock.
"We're definitely going to be damaged," he said. "We're a cigar bar. People come here to eat, drink and smoke."
A coalition of health groups petitioned to get Amendment 6 on the ballot this year. It will outlaw smoking in restaurants -- except for outdoor seating areas -- and enclosed workplaces, including employee break rooms.
Exceptions are made for stand-alone bars, designated guest rooms in hotels, and home businesses that don't provide child care or health care. Penalties would be set by lawmakers, who have to pass implementing legislation to take effect by July.
"It's going to save lives," said Martin Larsen, chairman of the Smoke-Free for Health campaign.
The language of the ballot question, which did not specifically refer to restaurants, angered many patrons at the Celtic Ray pub in Punta Gorda, according to owner Kevin Doyle.
Although the Celtic Ray has the appearance of a stand-alone bar, it serves food, and is therefore not exempt. Doyle, who estimated that 70 percent of his customers smoke, said food sales is the most profitable part of his operation.
"We're left with three choices: Do nothing and see what happens, which is risky; close the kitchen, which is even more risky; or go to the expense of putting up a wall to close off one side of the building, which is not really feasible for us."
Eric Biafra, a smoker and bar patron at Chili's Bar and Grill in South Venice, said he and other smokers are being subjected to unfair restrictions based on their individual choices.
"We pretty much think it's crap. I wish they'd just leave us alone," Biafra said. "It's a legal product. You can have smoking sections and non-smoking sections where they don't bother each other."
Joe Zarnoff, owner of the Cigar Room in Venice, wasn't surprised at the outcome, but he lamented what he sees as the erosion of personal freedoms.
"All of these amendments have good intentions, but they are taking away our personal freedoms, our choices," Zarnoff said.
Not everyone considered the measure a catastrophe, however. Smokers will continue to adjust to the new restrictions without major upheaval, said Marcia Gustafson, manager at Sharky's Restaurant in Venice.
"We have people who are dining with groups of six or seven people, and they're the only smoker in the group. That happens all the time already. They just get up and go outside," Gustafson said.
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