Posted on 01/02/2003 6:14:03 PM PST by Mark
Rocky Mountain News
In Pueblo, ix-nay on the ashtray
But smoking ban in eateries, taverns has some doing slow burn
By Charlie Brennan, Rocky Mountain News
January 2, 2003
On the first day of Pueblo's smoking ban in bars and restaurants, tavern co-owner Williams Brooks told a customer his lit cigarette was against the law.
"He took his cigarette and threw it on the new carpet I just paid $3,800 to install," Brooks said.
"I said, 'Please pick up your cigarette.' "
Then?
"He continued to smoke it," said Brooks, co-owner of the Oxford Bar and Grill in downtown Pueblo.
"He's a hell of a lot bigger than I am."
On a typical New Year's Day before the law took effect, Brooks said he would have expected 30 customers. Wednesday afternoon, there were four.
Two were smoking, but apart from posting notice of the new city ordinance passed 4-3 on Dec. 9, Brooks wasn't doing anything to stop them. He saw no evidence of enforcement efforts. Owners can be fined for violations.
One of the Oxford's defiant smokers was 51-year-old Larry Elbert of Pueblo.
"I think it's communist B.S.," said Elbert, dragging on a Marlboro. "I think our freedom is going away."
Elbert said if he is no longer permitted to light up at the Oxford or any other Pueblo establishment, "I'll go someplace where I can. That's my right as an individual, and that's my right as an American."
He was defended by nonsmoker Lenny Davis, a Pueblo resident since 1965.
"If they would have put this on the ballot and the people would have voted for it, then it wouldn't have been a problem," said Davis, 58. "But here, you got four people trying to control the lives of hundreds of thousands."
Davis started smoking when he was 16 and quit when he was 22, but doubts he and other nonsmokers are harmed by those who do so.
"I don't think there's any medical proof that secondhand smoke damages anybody," Davis said.
Actually, Dr. Louis Balizet, an oncologist who supported the ban, had told the City Council that about 68,000 deaths annually are caused by secondhand smoke, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.
Nevertheless, Davis countered, "If they're concerned about their employees, if they don't have any customers, they won't have any employees."
Brooks, the Oxford tavern co-owner, added another victim to the list:
"It's going to hurt the city, too, because I won't have to pay them as much sales tax."
Linda Shasteen, the other co-owner of the Oxford, said 4,000 petition signatures opposing the law were presented to the Pueblo City Council before the law was passed - but those signatures were ignored.
Now, she said, signatures are being collected to put the law to a public vote - and to recall the four council members who supported it.
"All these people who are making such a fuss about this and really wanted it passed, they don't frequent bars. They don't go into bars," Shasteen said.
Barring smoking in restaurants would make sense, she said, since those are commonly a family setting.
Bars, she said, are another matter.
"We don't have kids in here," she said. "Most of our customers in here are 50 and older. You're going to get them to quit smoking now?"
Nine more Colorado communities have similar smoking bans, including Alamosa, Aspen, Boulder, Louisville, Montrose, Pitkin County, Snowmass Village, Superior and Telluride.
A Denver group is gathering petition signatures for an ordinance, but the matter has not yet come before the City Council.
Some DEFY Pueblo Smoking Ban(CO)
Posted by Max McGarrity to Mark; SheLion; Gabz; Just another Joe; metesky
On News/Activism 01/02/2003 5:51 PM PST #12 of 12
Anyone want to support the freedom fighters in Pueblo? Even a letter to let them know they're standing up for all of us and we appreciate it would be a good thing.
Don Gray
Gray's Coors Tavern
Puebloans for Common Sense in Government
515 W 4th
Pueblo, CO 81003
(719) 544-0455
That should turn into a costly cigarette. I just wonder if the government elite didn't provoke this uncalled for action- oppressing him, driving him to crime.
That was a typical liberal response.(/humor)--- Although, a certain private detective assisting the Klintons........
Well, you are a better gentleman than I. I would have meant it.....And when the council establishes the anti-nico gestapo, I and my fellow customers would whip their butts anytime they showed up in the bar......
OK Mark, my letter is going out tomorrow. Thanks
Thanks for the Ping, Witness another anti-business state like California, we are knee deep in red ink and the only thank they can think to do is hurt the business's even more, as if they don't know how to operate their own establishment........duh...duh...duh...lets all just follow the leader and not raise a stink....
Nevertheless, Davis countered, "If they're concerned about their employees, if they don't have any customers, they won't have any employees."
Number 1, the EPA report was debunked long ago.
Number 2 Davis has it down. If the economy is bad now what do they think is going to happen when the bartenders and barmaids get let go because there isn't enough business?
At least WillieGreen will get more posts.
Ah, but they won't be able to afford the ISP. ;^)
Where the HELL do they get the nerve to spout this crap?????
Here are the people who need to be kneecapped.
Out of the little points on the tops of there heads, maybe??????
Max, Max, you should know by now that a true anti has no shame. They can lie like a dog.
This is my first "ping" hope I did it right.
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