Freep Springfield, IL city council Meeting tonight at 6PM Call 789-2151 Reject Total Smoking Ban

Freep Springfield, IL City Council at 300 S. 7th Street tonight for full city council hearing at 6PM. Prevent Alderman Bruce Strom from repealing compromise amendment that exempts bars, bowling alleys, home business with adult customers, private banquet halls. If you can't be there call and support Alderman Tom Selinger's compromise and vote no on Bruce Strom's draconian proposal.

Republicans in Sangamon County are pushing this ban along with the State Journal Register that has editorialized on it 12 times

Call 789-2151 for alderman Call 789-2200 to ask Mayor Tim Davlin to continue to fight the ban

Ward 5 Joe Bartolomucci Ward 7 Judy Yeager Ward 8 Former Sangamon County Republican Chair Irv Smith Ward 10 Bruce Strom ringleader and sponsor

Democrat Supporting Ward 6 Mark Mahoney works as State House Clerk directly Under Mike Madigan in the Illinois House

Frank Edwards, Frank McNeil, Frank Kunz, Chuck Redpath, Tom Selinger and the Mayor

In a move that could allow Mayor Tim Davlin to avoid taking a politically difficult position, a Springfield City Council committee Monday added more than half a dozen exemptions to a proposed indoor workplace smoking ban over the objections of its sponsor.

The council chamber is expected to be packed tonight because aldermen are also expected to vote on another controversial ordinance - whether to allow The Salvation Army to build a community center and homeless shelter at 1400 J. David Jones Parkway.

The public affairs committee voted 3-2 to exempt bars, bar areas of restaurants, bar areas of bowling alleys, banquet rooms, private clubs, stage productions, non-health-care home businesses and tobacco retail stores from Ward 10 Ald. Bruce Strom's ordinance.

Under the amended ordinance, smoking would be banned only in the eating area of restaurants. In the bar areas, smoking would be allowed within 10 feet of the bar.

Strom's version of the ordinance banned smoking in all indoor workplaces except hotel rooms, private nursing home rooms and non-health-care home businesses.

Ward 9 Ald. Tom Selinger, a Davlin ally, introduced the amendments. The only way now to get a direct up or down vote on Strom's original ordinance is for a majority of the 10-member council to agree to remove the amendments.

Ward 1 Ald. Frank Edwards and Ward 4 Ald. Chuck Redpath joined Selinger in voting for the amendments. Ward 6 Ald. Mark Mahoney and Ward 7 Ald. Judy Yeager, who both favor a total ban, voted against them.

Before the amendments were introduced, the council was heading toward a showdown over the smoking ban, with five votes for, five against and Davlin holding the tie-breaking vote.

The amendments could act as a so-called "poison pill" that scuttles passage of any type of smoking ban.

While the amendments are in line with what Davlin has said he wants in an anti-smoking ordinance, there would not be six votes for a watered-down smoking ban.

Among those who have indicated they would support a comprehensive ban, Strom, Mahoney, Yeager, Ward 5 Ald. Joe Bartolomucci and Ward 8 Ald. Irv Smith said Monday they would not vote for Selinger's alternative.

Ward 3 Ald. Frank Kunz reiterated his position that he will not vote for any smoking ban.

Ward 2 Ald. Frank McNeil, who has leaned against any smoking ban, said he would consider such a compromise but wanted to know that restaurant owners would be OK with it.

Davlin spokesman Ernie Slottag said the mayor wanted to examine the text of the amendments before deciding.

Selinger said the amendments did not originate with the mayor's office and that he just wanted to offer a compromise.

Strom said Edwards, a fellow Republican, "went back on his word" to allow an up-or-down vote on the complete smoking ban.

Edwards said he only promised to not personally introduce amendments to the ban. He conceded that he did discuss his ideas for a compromise with Selinger.

"I think it's unfair to say that I prohibit any other alderman from pulling amendments out on the floor and getting a vote. That's not for me to control them," Edwards said.

Kathy Drea, public policy director for the American Lung Association of Illinois and Iowa, said the reason the Springfield Smokefree Coalition has not compromised is that bar workers' and bar patrons' health is no less important than that of people who work in restaurants.

Steve Riedl, executive director of the Illinois Licensed Beverage Association, thanked Selinger for offering the amendments. The ILBA says its members would lose business if indoor smoking is banned.

"The opportunity and time and place for changes is in the committee process," Riedl said. "This is a comprehensive smoking ban even with the changes proposed by Alderman Selinger."

Selinger - who received $100 plus four St. Louis Cardinals tickets in campaign contributions from Riedl during the reporting period that ended June 30, as well $600 from two Springfield bars - said campaign contributions had nothing to do with his amendments.

The ILBA has taken money from the tobacco industry, and Riedl has written letters in favor of other tobacco company positions, although he says his organization arrived at those positions independently.

Neither Davlin nor any other Springfield alderman received money from Riedl, the ILBA or the lung and heart associations during the last cycle, according to campaign finance records. Restaurants and bars contributed $1,750 to Davlin's campaign during the cycle.

Regarding the other big issue before the council, The Salvation Army Monday detailed the property improvements it is willing to make in hopes that the concerns of the Oak Ridge Neighborhood Association and veterans groups will be allayed and the city council will approve the zoning changes needed for the community center and homeless shelter.

The organization is offering to build sidewalks around the entire length of the property, construct a privacy fence on the back portion near residences, offer free space to the city for a police substation, allow part of the building to be a visitors' center for the war memorials at Oak Ridge Cemetery, offer two free acres to veterans so they can build their own visitors' center, terminate a parolee-housing contract with the state Department of Corrections, put in appropriate lighting and increase the number of meals for those staying in the shelter so they do not have to travel as often.

Opponents do not want The Salvation Army at that location because of its proximity to residents, and Oak Ridge Cemetery and the war memorials. The Salvation Army maintains that there are no other locations that will adequately meet its needs and budget.

The council meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. in Municipal Center West. Additional seating will be provided in the lobby, and the meeting will be televised on Insight Cable Channel 18

This article was all I could find, but it doesn't have any info on what happened.

County can't impose smoking ban
Towns close to Springfield don't plan to propose their own

By JOHN REYNOLDS
STAFF WRITER

If the Springfield City Council snuffs out smoking in restaurants and bars, local smokers shouldn't have much trouble finding somewhere else to light up and have a cold one.

Sangamon County officials don't have the authority to impose such a ban in the unincorporated area of the county, and none of the nearby towns contacted by The State Journal-Register plan to impose their own bans.

"It's not something I anticipate there would be a push for," said Frank Meredith, president of the Sherman Village Board. "We have two taverns (in Sherman), and we haven't had any complaints about smoking in them. I have spoken to the bar owners, and they are opposed to (a smoking ban)."

An ordinance was introduced to the Springfield City Council to ban smoking in virtually all indoor workplaces. Whether the ordinance has enough votes to pass remains to be seen, and some aldermen have voiced support for a compromise that would ban smoking in restaurants, but not bars and bowling alleys.

But the 29 people who sit on the Sangamon County Board will not be called upon to make a similar decision.

Assistant state's attorney Jim Grohne, who advises the county board on legal matters, said last week state statutes do not give Sangamon County the authority to impose a smoking ban similar to the proposal before Springfield council members.

According to the state law, the only governing bodies that can impose such a ban are home rule governments or municipalities. Municipalities include cities, villages or incorporated towns. Sangamon County is not a home rule government.

Information on the county's Web site says the county has issued 77 permanent liquor licenses. Included are eight gas stations/convenience stores. The rest are taverns, eating establishments, catering businesses, clubs and service lodges.

In addition to Sherman, officials in Jerome, Riverton, Rochester, New Berlin and Chatham also said there have been no pushes for smoking bans in their communities.

"There has not been any discussion at this point," said Tom Gray, president of the Chatham Village Board. "I don't have any position on it. I want to see what the restaurant owners think."

While there have been some casual conversations about Springfield's smoking ban in New Berlin, the issue hasn't officially come before that town's board of trustees, either.

"I don't see anything happening here," said Stephen Frank, president of the New Berlin Village Board. "I don't think there would be any support (for a smoking ban) in New Berlin."

Jerome Village Board President Harry Stirmell echoed Frank's comments.

"At this point, I don't see the issue coming up. ... One would think that if the city (Springfield) were to do something and we don't, it could increase the people going to (our restaurants.)"

One of the Jerome restaurants Stirmell was referring to was The Barrel Head, 1577 W. Wabash Ave.

Kevin Davlin, owner of the combination bar/restaurant, thinks a Springfield smoking ban would result in more business at his Jerome establishment, but he isn't pushing for the proposal. He also owns Chantilly Lace at 2660 S. Fifth St., a bar inside Springfield's city limits.

"It's a double-edged sword. I think business will increase (at The Barrel Head), but a ban would hurt at Chantilly Lace. I feel sorry for Springfield restaurants if the ban does pass as Ald. Bruce Strom proposes," Davlin said.

Kevin Davlin's brother is Springfield Mayor Tim Davlin. Mayor Davlin supports a smoking ban, but wants to consider possible exemptions for bars and taverns, said spokesman Ernie Slottag last week.

While Kevin Davlin speculated business could increase at The Barrel Head, not all business owners who live outside the city are as confident.

The Curve Inn, 3219 S. Sixth St., is in Southern View, which means it would not be affected by any Springfield City Council action. However, Don Thompson, one of the owners, doesn't think everyone realizes his establishment is outside of Springfield.

"I think the first effect will be that everybody will say they can't smoke in Springfield and they won't realize we aren't in Springfield," he said.

Even though the Sangamon County Board does not have the authority to impose a smoking ban, county board Chairman Andy Van Meter said that, personally, he likes the idea.

"If the county had the authority to act, I would take every reasonable measure to implement a responsible and comprehensive smoking ban," Van Meter said.

"I cannot speak for the board's position on this issue, but I can say that I personally support this measure in the strongest possible terms. The weight of the medical evidence overwhelmingly points to second-hand smoke as a danger to non-smokers.

"We restrict many of life's activities by time, place and manner to ensure public health or safety," Van Meter added. "In my opinion, smoking should be similarly restricted. One person's pleasure should not be another person's health risk."

Look what they anti-Tobacco, It's for the Children crowd are pushing in Arizona.

Mrs. Basha wants 80¢ tobacco tax for kids
By Howard Fischer
CAPITOL MEDIA SERVICES
Tucson, Arizona | Published: 12.07.2005
advertisementPHOENIX — The owners of an Arizona supermarket chain want voters to boost cigarette taxes by 80 cents a pack to pay for early childhood development programs.

Backers of an initiative drive kicking off today hope the tax will raise $150 million a year. Members of a special board would use the proceeds to fill "unmet needs" in programs for youngsters ages 5 and under, with some of the money specifically earmarked for children in poor families.

The initiative is the brainchild of Nadine Mathis Basha, a member of the state Board of Education. Mathis Basha and her husband, Eddie, who own the grocery chain bearing the family name, also are putting up both personal and business funds to hire people to get 122,612 signatures by July to qualify it for the November ballot.

Mathis Basha said the process, including advertising to gain voter support, will cost at least $1 million.

The idea, she said, comes from her own experience with small children. Aside from having a master's degree in early-childhood education, she taught school before setting up a firm that helps employers develop child-care programs for workers.

She said she found early is better.

"The brain is nearly 90 percent developed by the age of 3," she said. But she said not every child has the experiences necessary in those early years to enter school ready to learn.

"There is no funding for kids 0 through 5," Mathis Basha said. "And I really believe the Legislature, given their past voting record, this would not be something they would support."

Mathis Basha said that's why she is taking the issue directly to voters.

What would be funded will vary by community.

Under the proposal, the new state board will form regional councils, all of which would determine the needs in their own communities and then review applications by public and private organizations for funding to fill those needs.

That could be quality child care for working parents, she said. But it also might be providing more health screenings for infants, educating parents about early childhood formation and teaching pediatricians to recognize developmental problems in children.

If the plan approved, the state tax on a pack of cigarettes would hit $1.98 a pack. And it could reach an even $2: An unrelated initiative to ban smoking in public places, also being circulated for next year's ballot, includes a 2-cent-a-pack levy to fund enforcement.

Mathis Basha acknowledged she chose the tobacco tax for political reasons: It raises the right amount of money and "this is what we know will pass." Campaign consultant Steve Roman said other options, like higher sales or income taxes, did not poll as well.

A 2004 voter-approved measure requires all new programs to provide their own funding source. That measure also says if collections are insufficient, the Legislature need not make up the difference.

But she said she isn't worried the higher tax will result in fewer smokers and insufficient dollars for her programs.

"If there comes a time in the state where there are no more smokers, we're going to be really delighted to take on the task of finding a new revenue stream," she said.

There are advantages to having each region determine its own needs, versus a one-size-fits-all approach, she said.

"It could be that you have a population of Hispanic mothers that really don't like to use out-of-home care," she said. At the same time, she continued, there is evidence that many Hispanic children enter kindergarten not ready to learn.

She said some groups may put together grant programs to help those mothers help their own children improve their vocabulary and have the skills they need to succeed in school.

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.