Bloomberg Seeks to Ban Smoking in Every Restaurant and Bar

The New York Times ^ | August 9, 2002 | JENNIFER STEINHAUER

[SheLion]

Like that mayor of Friendship Heights, MD who was backing a town ordinance banning out-of-doors smoking, and who was charged with molesting a 14-year-old boy in the men's room of the National Cathedral in D.C. I think he ended up admitting the charge in a plea bargain.

Yes, I remember that. Strange how some want to take away "our" rights, yet think they should just continue on their merry way. I never could understand what gets into people. There was only one perfect man who walked the earth, and he died over 2000 years ago.

The anti's should worry about taking care of their OWN lives today, before working on taking away the rights of others.

[SheLion]

Apples and oranges. Mr. Bloomberg does not wish to stop selling cigarettes, he just wants people to stop smoking cigarettes.

The taxes smokers shell out, the city should win and DINE them! heh!

Bloomberg and his croonies talk out of both sides of their mouths. But, thankfully, a lot of New Yorkers are going to the Net, the Reservations to buy cheaper cigarettes. Or, even rolling their own.

My heart really goes out to the small business owners who are just trying to make a way in life. The anti's would have us believe that the bans won't hurt. This is inaccurate and deceitful information.

A LOT of us absolutely refuses to spend one dime in an establishment that does not want us. I feel bad for the owner, but why should we spend our hard earned money to pay for that personal abuse.

[lavaroise]

Bloomberg, you'd think the typical business man would know better about living and taxes. Man, these people are in the business of sending prostitutes to get deals with banks throating us down with their screwy software, and the average joe can't smoke in his local bar.

[Caipirabob]

I'm a former smoker, and frankly, what I miss the most is the atmosphere where everyone is sitting around, talking, relaxing, enjoying a few smokes and brews.

No doubt. Sounds like good ol' times with some buds. I only smoke cigars maybe once every two or three months, but it's always in good company. Right now our favorite spot is an upgraded pool hall where we have beautiful waitresses who bring us an unlimited variety of single malts scotches to go with our smokes while our pool playing gets worse and worse.

And some idiot wants to end this? Off with their head!

[I'm_With_Orwell]

if you want to smoke at a restaurant, don't choose to go to NYC.

You talk like a card-carrying democrat. What gives you the right to speak for all NY'ers? Over 25% of adult NY'ers smoke. Do you think they agree with you?

Perhaps you missed the bit where the primary distinction between a democrat and a Republican is that democrats believe in the ability of the Gubmint and the majority to override the minority, whereas Republicans believe in individuals and their property rights, even if they are in the minority.

Perhaps you missed the distinction between a "republic" and a "democracy". The philosophy doesn't just apply to countries, it applies to interactions between individuals, as well.

Take a loonnggg hard look at yourself and your values. You are not a Republican. I believe SheLion would call you a RINO, and I believe she would be spot on!

[grania]

So your presumed right to smoke is greater than my right to breathe clean, healthy air? Don't think so.

I really don't see why the argument isn't obvious here (and I'm a former smoker, so I'm not defending my right to smoke; I'm defending a lifestyle).

Let's try it this way. Assume Fred opens a restaurant "Fred's Fried Fish". And all he sells is Fried Fish, French Fries, Fried Bread, you name it...everything you can get at Fred's is at least 95% grease. Well, lets say Wilma thinks greasy food is disgusting, so she can't anything to eat at Fred's even though they have the best darn cavepaintings anywhere.

So what does Wilma do? Does she demand that Fred get rid of the disgusting grease that permeates everything and offers bark and leaf salads? Or does she take her business elsewhere, to a restaurant that has what she likes?

Get it? The owner of the restaurant should make these business decisions...not Wilma. She votes by taking her business elsewhere.

[grania]

You think it's okay for someone to smoke or drink in the privacy of their own home, but argue tooth and nail against pot. I could understand if you were trying to make the argument JUST against crack or heroin. Again, this seems disingenuous to me.

For the record...a lot of people, (yes, even in the '60s) chose tobacco and alcoholic beverages because they were legal, as opposed to illegal drugs. Since that is their basis for smoking, I see a huge difference.

Back when I was in Junior High and High School, moderation within the law was acceptable. So, I can see how people have a tobacco habit. I can't accept that people took up something they knew was illegal.

[Leisler]

As the Nazis, like Kings, et al, viewed people as crop, they were the first to legislate against tobacco. Get this, they wouldn't even send cigs to the eastern front. Bad for the soldiers health don't you know.

[aristeides]

The Nazis didn't send cigs to the Eastern front? I didn't know that. I think I remember German soldiers smoking in Eastern front movies like Cross of Iron. Are those movies inaccurate on this point? Or did the soldiers find a way to smuggle cigarettes? I imagine they overran enough Russian positions to be able to smoke papirosy, if that was all they could get, at least in the first couple of years of Barbarossa. Soldiers like stronger smokes anyway. When I was stationed in Berlin, I smoked Gaulloises.

[Leisler]

Even the Nazis couln't stop smoking. The German Army had a cigs ration. Hitler forbade it. Thus you had the notion that even though a soldier was being sent to certian death, no smoking. It was in this book

Give me untill tomorrow afternoon and I will find the source.

[Clemenza]

Cuomo and Dinkens taxed New York City so much

Let's not forget that tax-loving idiot Koch.

[NYer]

Let's not forget that tax-loving idiot Koch.

Mr. Affability, himself? Yes, "let's".

Isn't it almost time to pull him out of the closet to go stumping for one of the candidates? Guess we'll be seeing his honor's face, splattered all over the tv, very soon.

[AFreeBird]

If someone is smoking in a restaurant, what choice do I have? Can I choose not to breathe it? No. My choice to breathe clean, smoke-free air is taken away from me.

Most modern "Smoke Eater" air systems in resteraunts these days probably leave the air cleaner than what you'll find outside.

I visit a place that has one and even though there are smokers all around, the smoke isn't there. People sitting in the "non-smoking" section are not bothered even though there is no barrier between the sections.

BTW: The owner of this particular establishment is pretty much anti-smoking due to his father dying from cancer... never-the-less he is a business man and knows a great deal of his patrons are smokers and "chooses" to accomodate them.

[Pagey]

One thing about NY they don't have the guts to stand up and fight back. Signs were everywhere for Hillary to get out of NY,yet she holds the NY Senate seat.

There will come a time,when Americans will RUE the day they elected her to that seat.People allow officials to talk the Republican line,when they're just tax and spend liberals.Bloomberg is a classic example of this. Food is next.

[Eaker]

You are pathetic.

Loser, turn left and go back to DU.