[MeekOneGOP]

First Dallas, now Austin. How incredibly ridiculous. And I say that as a reformed smoker for over 20 years.

Council members also met a fresh lobbyist in Mike Sheffield, president of the Austin Police Association. He said he told some council members Thursday that the ban would be difficult to enforce and would throw police in the middle of a fight that's left strong feelings on both sides.

"I have an incredible visual," echoed Council Member Jackie Goodman, an opponent of the ordinance. "911, there's a smoker."

[MeekOneGOP]

Ping a few Austin Freepers. A rare ping.

Please let me know if you want ON or OFF my Austin, Texas ping list!. . .don't be shy.

[MeekOneGOP]

[jimt]

First Dallas, now Austin.

They just extended it in Austin. They've had the same thing in restaurants for over ten years, as I discovered on my honeymoon. Needless to say we left after one day to go where free people lived, and would never go there again.

[Just another Joe]

But health groups discounted the financial fears and said the proposal was needed to protect workers and patrons from secondhand smoke.

Lies, more lies, and damn lies.

[Hodar]

There has been some radio play here in Austin about this. One of the proponents of this, have been band members. The bands that play in "The Music Capitol of the World" (no, I'm not making this up; this is the title that Austin has claimed) say that they have no choice but to perform in bars and dancehalls. That is now their work venue; just like bartenders and waitresses. They work there, and have no choice but to work there. Thus, when smokers chose to smoke inside, they are involuntarily subjected to the 2nd hand smoke.

To ask them to simply work elsewhere, would be the same thing as asking cubicle dwellers to find work elsewhere because of a smoker.

I'm an ex-smoker; and am not fond of smelling cigarettes or cigars. I can see the argument for property rights, and the owner making the decision. However, the workers should have a voice in what they are forced to endure.

[Gabz]

"Almost 25 percent of the U.S. population now lives in places that already have ordinances like this in place," said Ken Pfluger, chairman of the Tobacco-Free Austin Coalition, a group of health organizations that has led the charge for a total ban. "All the evidence points to the fact that business does not deteriorate."

BS - talk to the wait staff that are now collecting unemployment in Delware because of the ban - or the workers at the race track in Dover and tell them business does not deteriorate after a smoking ban.

SHEESH - I despise liars.

[VRWC_minion]

Another one down. The steam roller moves on.

[nothingnew]

But Thomas said that might still force diners sitting near a restaurant bar to breathe secondhand smoke.

Give me a frikkin' break!

FMCDH

[Wolfie]

"What is at issue here is the extent to which the city may dictate to its citizens what is good or bad for them," wrote Jennifer Riggs, the association's lawyer.

Government has carte blanche where that's concerned.

[Protagoras]

"At issue here is not whether smoking tobacco is 'good' or 'bad.' What is at issue here is the extent to which the city may dictate to its citizens what is good or bad for them," wrote Jennifer Riggs, the association's lawyer. She added, "The issue here is over far more than smoking."

Finally someone attacking this crap at the correct level.

[arasina]

I know! Put all those evil smokers in a billiard hall or bingo hall and bring back Janet Reno to go after them a la Waco. Hey, you may even get some geezers if you go after the bingo parlors and save some Social Security outlay!

JUST FOR THE RECORD, I SMOKE CIGARETTES.

[sam_paine]

First Dallas, now Austin.

Austin imported strip malls, then Californians, now smoking bans. Austin has just succeeded in becoming just another Dallas or Houston. Bye bye "weird Austin" forever.

[Destructor]

This was Mayor Gus Garcia's legacy to Austin. Mayor Garcia plans to retire from politics, and move to Mexico!No, I'm not joking. He's said as much himself.

[unixfox]

Just think if electricity had been discovered today. It would be deemed too dangerous, an environmental risk and an outright public hazard.