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Smokers 'Taking it to the Streets' to protest ban [restaurants suffering a 20 to 60 percent loss]
Buffalo News ^
Posted on 09/15/2003 8:11:35 AM PDT by Sub-Driver
Smokers 'Taking it to the Streets' to protest ban By VANESSA THOMAS News Staff Reporter 9/15/2003
A collective puff of cigarette smoke will permeate the air outside of restaurants and bars across Western New York tonight, when patrons stand outside with placards and light up to protest the new smoking ban. During the statewide protest, dubbed "Taking it to the Streets," customers at participating venues will be asked to step outside for a brief protest starting at 8:30 p.m., to show their disapproval of a smoking law, in effect since July 24, that has banned smoking in all workplaces, including bars, restaurants and bowling alleys.
Protests are planned for least three local venues - in Kenmore, Niagara Falls and North Tonawanda.
Organized by the Empire State Restaurant and Tavern Association, the rally is meant for those who cannot attend the group's larger protest, which is scheduled for Tuesday morning on the steps of the state legislative office building in Albany.
"People are frustrated and they feel helpless, so by participating in the protest they'll feel like their voices are being heard," said Western New York organizer Judi Justiana.
"Our customers feel like lepers every time they have to step outside to smoke. . . . The state went too far with this law and it's causing major job losses."
Patrick Hoak, president of the Innkeepers Association of Western New York, said the smoking law caused five restaurants in Western New York to close down. He estimated that restaurants are suffering a 20 to 60 percent loss in business because of it.
"It's hypocritical for (the state) to say smoking is bad for our health, yet they take the sales tax (on cigarettes)," said Hoak. "This is not about health. This is about choice. . . . Don't put a knife in the back of restaurants. We need help now."
Hoak said the bar and restaurant owners hope the rallies will push state legislators to amend the law to allow smoking if there is an air purification system in the bar area.
The Empire State Restaurant and Tavern Association has also filed a lawsuit in federal court in Syracuse against the state to challenge the constitutionality of the law.
Nevertheless, anti-smoking advocates at the Center for a Tobacco Free New York say the smoking ban helps protect employees and patrons from the toxic effects of cigarettes.
Lesley Battaglia, manager at Betty's Grill in North Tonawanda, said the anti-smoking initiative has crippled her family business of 40 years.
"Summer's bad to begin with but this just adds to the struggle," said Battaglia, adding that profit is down about 30 percent. "We're already dreading the winter."
Justiana, owner of Judi's Lounge, 257 Military Road, Niagara Falls - where one of the local rallies will be held - said each "Taking it to the Streets" rally will last between 15 and 30 minutes.
Protests are also planned for St. James Place, a sports bar and pizzeria at 1531 Military in Kenmore; and the corner of Webster and Tremont streets in North Tonawanda's restaurant district.
TOPICS: Front Page News; Government; News/Current Events; US: New York
KEYWORDS: gnatzies; niconazi; pufflist; smokingban; smokingbans
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To: Sub-Driver
The ban is killing business at many of the bars in my nabe. Thanks Bloomberg and Patakifeller!
2
posted on
09/15/2003 8:12:23 AM PDT
by
Clemenza
(East side, West side, all around the town. Tripping the light fantastic on the sidewalks of New York)
To: Clemenza
I know of several bars in my old home town of Endicott NY that have gone out of business since the smoking ban went into effect. Only took 2 months for one of them to suffer such a loss of business that they had to shut down. Others are on the brink, and I know of at least 3 that will not make it through the end of the year.
3
posted on
09/15/2003 8:15:03 AM PDT
by
Phantom Lord
(Distributor of Pain, Your Loss Becomes My Gain)
To: Sub-Driver; Gabz; Just another Joe
I know you're quite busy right now, gabz, but thought you might want to read this later when you have some *gulp* time.
4
posted on
09/15/2003 8:15:27 AM PDT
by
Slip18
To: Sub-Driver
There needs to be a law as well against flatulating in restaurants!
To: Phantom Lord
I know of several bars in my old home town of Endicott NY Endicott? That's Camille Paglia's hometown. I've never been there, but she mentions it frequently in her writings. It's a fairly blue collar place if I remember.
I mention that because its the blue collar gin mills in the outer boroughs that have been hit the hardest here. The Yuppies in their co-ed "lounges" in Manhattan don't seem to care.
6
posted on
09/15/2003 8:20:48 AM PDT
by
Clemenza
(East side, West side, all around the town. Tripping the light fantastic on the sidewalks of New York)
To: Sub-Driver
Who cares if the wait staff, bartenders and cooks are laid off, it is better that their work (former) environment is free from that harmful SHS!
7
posted on
09/15/2003 8:21:36 AM PDT
by
CSM
("We have been assigned to the hall of Freep. No other work is allowed" - Equality 7-2521)
To: Clemenza
Endicott was run by 2 companies. Endicott Johnson Shoes and IBM. IBM was founded in Endicott NY, originally as Time Inc. producing punch clocks for workers to clock in and out of work. Since EJ shut down and IBM left town, it has become a No Collar Town as there are no jobs left.
The population is aging rapidly and any person under 50 with 2 brain cells has left.
8
posted on
09/15/2003 8:22:44 AM PDT
by
Phantom Lord
(Distributor of Pain, Your Loss Becomes My Gain)
To: Phantom Lord
smoking in bars? absolutely!
smoking in restaurants? rather you not do it.
have a nice day.
9
posted on
09/15/2003 8:28:08 AM PDT
by
kinghorse
To: Sub-Driver
Good luck to them.........................
May they have better luck than the folks in Delaware.
10
posted on
09/15/2003 8:31:33 AM PDT
by
Gabz
(anti-smokers - personification of everything wrong in this country.)
To: Slip18; *puff_list
Thanks slip!!!!
11
posted on
09/15/2003 8:32:11 AM PDT
by
Gabz
(anti-smokers - personification of everything wrong in this country.)
To: kinghorse
smoking in bars? absolutely!
smoking in restaurants? rather you not do it. I prefer it be up to the owner wether they allowing smoking or not. Regardless of the type of establishment.
12
posted on
09/15/2003 8:33:40 AM PDT
by
Phantom Lord
(Distributor of Pain, Your Loss Becomes My Gain)
To: Sub-Driver
So they're trying to say that smokers have stopped eating and drinking?
Somehow I doubt it.
13
posted on
09/15/2003 8:33:48 AM PDT
by
Redbob
To: Clemenza
I was in NY Hilton last month, and it sure was strange not being able to smoke in a bar..........felt like something was missing, out of place...
To: Redbob
So they're trying to say that smokers have stopped eating and drinking? Somehow I doubt it.
No. They are saying that smokers have stopped eating and drinking at business establishments and are now doing it at home almost exclusivly.
15
posted on
09/15/2003 8:40:21 AM PDT
by
Phantom Lord
(Distributor of Pain, Your Loss Becomes My Gain)
To: Sub-Driver; SheLion
A real rebellion would be for everyone to light up inside the bars(assuming it's a bar where the owner wants smoking),all at one time,and see what the heck they could do about it.
Are they going to arrest everyone? Are they going to actually jail everyone?Are they going to institute fines which I certainly would refuse to pay. Are they going to take me to court to collect the fine? I think not. What a waste of police time,court time, and taxpayer money it would be.
If smokers don't do more active protesting this nonsense will continue.
16
posted on
09/15/2003 8:40:38 AM PDT
by
Mears
To: Mears
Are they going to institute fines which I certainly would refuse to pay. The smoker isn't fined. The bar/restaurant is.
17
posted on
09/15/2003 8:41:27 AM PDT
by
Phantom Lord
(Distributor of Pain, Your Loss Becomes My Gain)
To: Phantom Lord
smoking in bars? absolutely!
smoking in restaurants? rather you not do it. I prefer it be up to the owner wether they allowing smoking or not. Regardless of the type of establishment.
That solution is too simple and doesn't give the nanny staters a chance to show how much they
care. Indeed, it doesn't require any governmental involvement at all. Can't have
that.....
-Eric
18
posted on
09/15/2003 8:43:00 AM PDT
by
E Rocc
("Dry counties" are a Protestant form of "sharia".)
To: Phantom Lord
Unfortunately a lot of people have an hour for lunch or are from out of town. They wouldn't know which establishments to steer clear of. I could care less about SHS. I detest the nasty smell when I'm trying to enjoy my meal.
To: Sub-Driver
I live in the city of Buffalo and have been saying for the longest time to radio shows and letters to the editor (which haven't gotten printed) that if smokers are infuriated, there should be an organized ban on buyuing state lottery tickets.
A Monday night protest in three Buffalo suburbs isn't going to attract much interest, unfortunately. I was at the Chophouse Saturday night and we had about 11 people in my party and about half were smokers. Everyone had to keep getting up and walking out of the restaurant to smoke throughout the drinks and dinner - it was a shame, really. I can't even imagine the devastation to Buffalo city bars and restaurants in the winter. Just another nail in Buffalo's coffin, hammered by Pataki - that jerk.
20
posted on
09/15/2003 8:43:38 AM PDT
by
rocky88
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