Smokers 'Taking it to the Streets' to protest ban [restaurants suffering a 20 to 60 percent loss]

Buffalo News ^

[Clemenza]

The ban is killing business at many of the bars in my nabe. Thanks Bloomberg and Patakifeller!

[Phantom Lord]

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.

[Slip18]

I know you're quite busy right now, gabz, but thought you might want to read this later when you have some *gulp* time.

[rovenstinez]

There needs to be a law as well against flatulating in restaurants!

[Clemenza]

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.

[CSM]

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!

[Phantom Lord]

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.

[kinghorse]

smoking in bars? absolutely!
smoking in restaurants? rather you not do it.

have a nice day.

[Gabz]

Good luck to them.........................

May they have better luck than the folks in Delaware.

[Gabz]

Thanks slip!!!!

[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.

[Redbob]

So they're trying to say that smokers have stopped eating and drinking?

Somehow I doubt it.

[Sub-Driver]

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...

[Phantom Lord]

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.

[Mears]

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.

[Phantom Lord]

Are they going to institute fines which I certainly would refuse to pay.

The smoker isn't fined. The bar/restaurant is.

[E Rocc]

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

[kinghorse]

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.

[rocky88]

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.