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Florida: Ormond mayor airs smoking ban idea

Dear Mayor Costello,

Concerning your proposed smoking ban in Ormond Beach: why do you want to cut out 25-30% of your economy? In this day, the economy is under a lot of pressure, yet you wish to choke off MORE of your economy by restricting 25-30% of your tourists AND your constituents who smoke.

For the children? Do you realize that is the same mantra that Hitler used back in the 40's to prohibit people from smoking? Are you now wearing brown shirts and marching in jack boots?

Tobacco is a legal product. If you want to control, restrict and ban smokers, then why don't you call for an all out ban? Pull all tobacco products off of the shelves in your district. That would "really" get the message across.

And one more thing: if you carry through with this ban, then I believe that all tobacco settlement money should stop filling your coffers.

Smoking tourists from out of state do not WANT to spend their money in Florida anymore! So I hope your budget can carry the loss.

Dear Mayor Costello,

I read with total dismay your proposal to make Ormond Beach a no-smoking
city. I have heard of some far-fetched ideas coming from the anti-smoker
brigades but such proposals truly take the cake.

While it has been a few years, I have visited your city on vacation in the
past. Florida was the vacation destination choice of my family since the
early 1970's.

Ormond Beach will never be on that list of destinations ever again. Smokers
may only represent about 25% of the population, but do you really believe
that non-smokers will make up the difference in lost tourism dollars when
smokers refuse to visit your fair city, and their non-smoking friends and
family join them elsewhere?

As a parent it is my decision as to what I will shield my child from - that
is my job not yours. Antique vehicles parading through the streets are not
exactly conducive to pollution-free air and set a bad example to children
regarding the misguided use of vehicles. Are you also proposing to cancel
your annual auto shows?

Enjoy your smoke-free Utopia, but do not forget that smokers are not only
taxpayers, but tourists as well. Be prepared when they stop coming to your
city, whether this ridiculous porposal of yours is enacted or not. You have
blatantly told 50 million Americans they are not wanted.

Good Luck