'New Yorkers should be able to choose how they go to hell'

The Sunday Telegraph ^ | April 27, 2003 | Julian Coman

[texasbluebell]

Seems like a good place to put a silly pic of Bloomberg. As the photo caption says, he wants to rule the unrulable city.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg stands dressed in armor on stage during his 'Mayor of La Mancha' skit at the annual Inner Circle charity dinner in New York, Saturday, April 12, 2003. To the tune of 'The Impossible Dream,' Bloomberg sang that his own dreams were to 'run the unrunnable schools,' 'rule the unrulable city,' and 'raise the unraiseable tax.'

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

Good ol' Bloombat. Wants to keep people healthy on the job, even if some are fired due to suddenly not being needed!

[xkaydet65]

One thing I suggest to all saloon owners in the Apple: In light of the murder ten days ago which resulted from a bouncer's efforts to enforce the smoking ban, all owners call 911 any time a patron is smoking.Mike Bloomberg has placed this law on the books and it involves possible violent confrontations. Dealing with violence resulting from enforcement of law is a police matter. Do this and Mike must make a choice. Continue to be a smoke Nazi and waste the Finest on that dubious job, or act in a manner that shows common sense. So all you saloon owners and especially the guys at The Old Town dial up 911.

[Clemenza]

Ping!

[Clemenza]

New York has a direct line to 'ell.

An appropriate graphic, as the L train goes to Canarsie, which some believe to be the closest thing to hell on earth (or at least Purgatory). Who would ever buy in what was once the sewage dump of the city is beyond me.

[WaterDragon]

I never realized the reputedly tough New Yorkers were such meek sheep. Haven't they heard of recalling politicians?

[qam1]

NY is one of the highest taxed states in the union, too. ( I think it is the highest, but I wouldn't bet my firstborn on that.)

Take the bet!!!!

New York is the highest taxed in everything.

The New State Budget last year was $90 Billion dollars compare that to California's (Which has ~15 Million more people) 74 Billion and Texas' (About the same size) 67 Billion.

And that's only the tip of the Iceberg because good ole' Republican Pataki has a way of passing unfunded Mandates onto the counties and likes to borrow tons of $$$ just to have a balanced budget.

Say what you will about Grey Davis's budget but a least facing a crisis he is actually making cuts while in New York even though we are $10 Billion in the red Pataki is still going to increase spending this year by $2 Billion.

Californians are trying to recall Davis, HA!!! As a New Yorker I would gladly switch governors.

[qam1]

No, I am afraid not

http://www.nydailynews.com/front/story/77815p-71651c.html

Coffee biz:
Odor fine stinks

By MELISSA GRACE
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER

The Gillies Coffee Co. says it may be time to pack its beans and go.
The 163-year-old Brooklyn business has been ordered to pay a $400 fine for polluting the air with the smell of roasted coffee - and that has the owners steaming mad.

"There is nothing I can do to stop the smell of coffee," said Hy Chabbott, a co-owner of the roasting and distribution warehouse. "If the [city] continues to find these smells offensive, we're going to have to find another place to roast our coffee."

Responding to a complaint last June, a city Environmental Protection Department inspector visited the 19th St. shop and discovered "heavy coffee odors." With that, he issued a pollution code violation.

The coffee smell came from storage containers and not the roasting machines, which are designed specifically to control odors. Believing the company did nothing wrong, Gillies went to court to fight the summons.

On April 2, the response came from Administrative Law Judge Phyllis Roberts: Pay up.

Chabbott said he and his business partner must now decide whether they'll pay the fine, appeal the decision or move to New Jersey.

Officials at the Environmental Protection Department said the summons isn't meant to run Gillies and its 26 employees out of New York.

"We are not about driving people out of business," spokesman Charles Sturcken said. "We'll work with them so they can contain the fumes and not bother nearby residents."

Sturcken added that the city has issued hundreds of smell summonses to other establishments, including pizza parlors, Indian restaurants and a Krispy Kreme doughnut bakery.

But Chabbott says he is still trying to comprehend the logic behind the complaint - and the summons.

"If you live over a bakery, should it be fined and cited for an offensive smell?" he asked.

[qam1]

"Why now?" says Mr Sullivan as he chews a piece of gum to ease his cigarette craving. "Maybe it is a good idea to have a no-smoking ban, although as a smoker I don't think so

Why Now??????

What it is only OK to take away freedoms in good economic times???

[qam1]

Somehow I can't picture Baffoonberg as a Knight.

If reincarnation is real than I know exactly what historical figure one term Mikey was in a past life.

[NYCVirago]

The city council acted quickly to snuff out the rebellion. Fines for unlicensed drinking outdoors were raised from $25 to $150 and there is now the prospect of a jail sentence for repeat offenders.

Does anyone know what the fine is in New York for being caught smoking marijuana in public? I'm curious if it's less than the drinking/smoking fines.

[MadIvan]

Does anyone know what the fine is in New York for being caught smoking marijuana in public? I'm curious if it's less than the drinking/smoking fines.

Apparently the punishment is to be elected Mayor. :)

Regards, Ivan

[this_ol_patriot]

Hitler was anti-tobacco and anti-alcohol BUT that is not what this cartoon from "Der Stürmer", a horrible, horrible anti-semitic newspaper run by a horrible, horrible demon named Julius Streicher depicts.

If you must know what it depicts I'll tell you but it has nothing to do with smoking.

[estrogen]

What is wrong with the New York business owners and the smokers? They pay exorbitant rents for their businesses (bars etc.) and let this stupid law pass?

I can't believe this. Why are people so apathetic? Is it because we (smokers) are in the minority?

Or is it because the ELECTED officials (Bloomberg) have become the gestapo?

[texasbluebell]

excellent!

[NativeNewYorker]

The L train used to be the worst of the worst lines. You could always find the L platforms at Union Square by following the smell of urine.

Now, it's an average line.

[Mears]

The pharmacy companies msut be salivating about this.

The only good substitute I've ever found for a cigarette was a jelly doughnut and now obesity is a problem.

Bring back the fifties when life was good.

[GladesGuru]

My, My! Isn't that nice?

In the self designated "Queen City of the World" the inhabitants (should they be called 'queens'?) no longer empty their bladders while awaiting the L train.

Is this due to more regular trains under the Reich of Bloomie reducing the previously unpredictable and unbearable delays?

Or is it because another law was passed against "creating a noxious odor"?

Or did EPA show up with regulations & armed enforcement personnel to prevent "point source contamination"?

[Mears]

Good point on the property tax. Why hasn't this ever been challenged legally?

An argument I've heard is that the Board of Health has regulations about the kitchen etc. and therefore it has a right to regulate smoking but to me it makes no sense.

The customers aren't going to go into the kitchen and check temperatures of refrigerators and inspect for vermin but they can find out before entering whether smoking is allowed or not.

Where are the lawyers on this?

[Victoria Delsoul]

Let me tell you, my father died from lung cancer at the age of 58 and I was still giving him cigarettes in hospital on his deathbed. New Yorkers should be able to choose to go to hell their own way.

LOL.