NYC: Smoking: Bloomberg lied, bars died

philly.com ^ | 3-30-06 | Audrey Silk

[SheLion]

BEFORE ANYONE trots out the disinformation to support a smoking ban in Philadelphia, let me tell you that New York City's sales-tax revenue for bars and restaurants did not rise "8.7 percent" as claimed (and repeated ad nauseam) by agencies Mayor Bloomberg dispatched on the first anniversary of the city's ban.

Not only were the figures distorted by including places like McDonald's and Starbucks, but smoking was banned in 95 percent of restaurants since the 1995 smoking ban.

What pre- to post-ban restaurant tax-revenue comparison was there to make? In all cases (notably bars), sales tax revenue was artificially low immediately following 9/11. To compare the post-ban year to those figures is dishonest.

In April '05, the state tax department released an official review of sales-tax revenue. Comparing the pre-ban year to the post-ban year, bars in NYC lost more than 3.5 percent.

Don't fall for the lies, Philadelphia. Individual owners will lose their livelihoods, and no one will hear their cries after the fact.

[SheLion]

[RandallFlagg]

IN BEFORE THE PING!!

WOO-HOO!!!

[SheLion]

Attention all business owners suffering from a smoking ban.
Please fill out this form and submit it for a new web page
Ban Loss

[satchmodog9]

ha

[SheLion]

IN BEFORE THE PING!!

Hahaaaaa

[Mears]

Man.you're fast !

[fanfan]

I like that!

[Chode]

do I really have to say it???

[SouthTexas]

Reality bites and these idiots still don't get it.

[Gabz]

NANNY STATE PING!!!!!!!!


For those unfamiliar with the name of this letter writer, Audrey Silk is a retired NYC Police Officer that basically jeopardized her job (and pension) to fight Bloomberg on the smoking ban. She was also the Libertarian candidate for Mayor last year........she obviously didn't win because the bloominidiot is still there - but at least she tried.

[wireman]

I've sold my bar in upstate NY. 30% of my business went away in July '03 and it never came back. I dealt with that, just as I dealt with the Draconian DUI laws.

The reason I bailed out is because I can't predict what this screwed up state is going to do next.

[Galveston Grl]

I am sorry to hear you had to sell your business. Socialism is not all it's cracked up to be.

[wireman]

I didn't have to sell, I just figured I would before the People's Republic of New York dropped the other shoe.

I can see it now....Beer, wine, fatty foods?

[MarcusTulliusCicero]

There is some indication that the ban in Philly may be dead, at least for the next year or two. It is apparently dead in City Council since they can't come to some compromise over this issue. Even if it should pass, I would expect it to be by only a 1 or 2 vote margin. (Also, I'm not positive, but I think they may have lost a yes vote when Rick Mariano was convicted of bribery and corruption.) And yesterday, on the local news-radio station, KYW1060, Mayor Street basically said he wouldn't sign the bill if it passed because, to paraphrase, "the neighborhood wouldn't let him come home if he did such a thing." So, even if it passed, I doubt they could over-ride a potential Street veto. Of course, that could simply have been his way of letting the anti-smoking lobby know that sufficient payments hadn't been received to ensure that he'd sign it!

[Galveston Grl]

Not the time to be in the fun business if you live in a state of liberals where fun is banned - unless it is porn or a bath house. Then you could make some money without worrying about the State.

[EGPWS]

Don't fall for the lies, Philadelphia. Individual owners will lose their livelihoods, and no one will hear their cries after the fact.

Add St. Paul to the Phillie list also.

The restaurant and bar owner's plea for an extension was denied.

Whats a few lost livelihoods when a nanny can achieve the pinnacle of "self minded doer"?

[EGPWS]

I can see it now....Beer, wine, fatty foods?

The laser has already been focused and fired.

[Phantom Lord]

My uncle sold his bar in Binghamton NY just prior to the smoking ban knowing what it would do to the business.

[SheLion]

I've sold my bar in upstate NY. 30% of my business went away in July '03 and it never came back. I dealt with that, just as I dealt with the Draconian DUI laws.

So many private businesses across the United States have closed because of the forced smoking bans.  Horrible!

[SheLion]

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