Posted on 01/11/2006 5:10:12 PM PST by elkfersupper
More than 100 strippers are expected to descend on the New Jersey State House Thursday to agitate and undulate for the instant repeal of the ban on smoking in bars that’s on track to become law by this evening.
Organized by two radio rabble-rousers and the owner of the Illusions go-go bar in Florence, the entertainers are aiming their protest at the incoming class of state lawmakers, not the legislators poised to pass the extended smoking ban today.
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Acting Gov. Richard Codey last week said he’ll sign the new law right away, saving Gov.-Elect Jon Corzine a political headache and meaning Thursday’s protest of dancers and barmaids will occur after the law is already on the books.
But Craig Carton and Ray Rossi, the radio hosts cued by a report in The Trentonian on the concerns of dancers at Illusions, think they can convince the new legislature to quickly repeal of the new ban.
The idea, said Carton, is "let them see as soon as it becomes law just how offensive it is to everyone in New Jersey.’’ He said the protest "is about small business rights being taken away’’ and cried hypocrisy like those quoted in The Trentonian article.
Growing and smoking tobacco is legal, Carton noted, "and bar owners know their clientele enjoys smoking. But now they’re not going to be able to let people do something that’s legal in their business.’’
Illusions proprietor Eleanore Travia, whose testimony before as Assembly public health committee last week got polite nods from the lawmakers, has been arguing that the new ban incorporates a double standard into state law.
It applies to all restaurants, bars and entertainment forums, except those in the casinos of Atlantic City.
"This is ridiculous! For you to enjoy a cocktail and a cigarette together in a public place, you’ll have to go to Atlantic City and put a quarter in a slot machine,’’ Travia complained.
She said the casinos "paid big money to be eliminated from that bill. They paid off, to get casinos off of that bill."
Travia and her dancers told The Trentonian their entertainment business should have the same rights as the casinos.
After their story came out in The Trentonian, the afternoon drive-time commentators of radio station 101.5 brought the fray to the Jersey airwaves.
By Friday, with help from Travia, as many as 400 strippers and dancers had called the station to express interest in the march on Trenton, Carton said.
One of the first members of the legislature the dancers will get a chance to convince to repeal will be Assemblywoman Loretta Weinberg, a sponsor of the extended smoking ban. Carton said she promised to face the protesters from the State House steps.
Really? Keep me posted!
Gord Lord, is it Friday or something? Protesting Strippers, Hermaphrodyte Polar Bears, Driving 7 year olds. Today has been a strange day!
The Friday Silly Threads can't hold a candle to some of these real threads!
How many are estimated to be there Calpernia?
Are you listening to it on the radio?
Thanks so much for keeping me posted!!
They are on now. I think Craig Carton said 300 strippers and 3,000 people that are there?
People from Maryland are even there. They have been setting up since 12 noon.
Bar owners there too.
Craig Carton read off all the NJ soldiers that have died in the M.E. Since the WOT started that have died for freedom.
Bringing up Veterans to the stage now and putting them on the mike.
Craig Carton is speaking with the Veteran now about what he thinks of the smoking band. Veteran said it is a communist action.
Veteran is now getting a lap dance.
Breaking for traffic and news update.
That's a nice amount of protestors. It's about time, though. The anti's forcing their will on business owners and businesses closing and employees being laid off of work. This BS has got to stop!
100 years ago, public nudity was banned and tobacco was tolerated. This isn't progress.
That's great! The America that Edward Hopper painted (in such as the Night Hawks) is long gone, I'm afraid.
Now Craig Carton just told a member of the audience to not light up a cigarette. It is a condition of being there, they will get kicked out.
The girls were told no nudity, they will get kicked out.
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