Bloomberg Seeks to Ban Smoking in Every Restaurant and Bar

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

[handk]

Did I hit a sore spot? I must have based on your off-point non-response.

What you don't get, thumb sucker, is that this issue is about property rights, period. It's not about health, or smelly clothes, or smoking, or imaginary "social rights".

No. It's about a man's right to buy a piece of land, build a restaurant, to create something (literally) from nothing, and then to have the corresponding right to run it as he sees fit.

And unfortunately for America, it's now become an issue of fighting unAmerican, NAZI-minded control freaks like you.

[Area51]

The vehicle you use to drive to that establishment and bitch about, creates a bit of a stink too.

But I bet you only picky about what OTHER people do.
Hillary would be proud.

[Freemyland]

What? Are you suggesting that restaurant owners should have the ability to decide whether to allow smoking in their own establishments? What gives them that right, other than the fact that it is the restaurant owners whose investment is on the line, and who, given that risk, must make choices as to the atmosphere they wish their restaurants to present. Your suggestion would mean that there would be some who allow smoking and some who don't, resulting in diners actually having the choice of whether to frequent a smoking or a non-smoking restaurant.

No No No! This will not do, because some restaurant owners and diners will undoubtedly choose contrary to the wishes of the great governmental nanny. We must not displease those among us who wish to run our lives for our own good.

[SheLion]

Smokers are sad and pathetic.

Your a sad and pathetic RINO! All for you and nothing for us. Pretty good stance you take there, you nasty RINO!

Conservatives work for the good of ALL people. Not just pick and choose. Even our own President is against hurting small business's. Guess you are wearing a brown shirt and jack boots. Your kind make me ill.

[NYer]

Next step, banning smoking in your house.

That's already been done. Some judge has prohibited a mother from smoking in her home during the week, even though her son only visits on weekends!

Grania has it absolutely right!! Cuomo and Dinkens taxed New York City so much that visitors and conventioneerss went elsewhere. Tourism dropped and with it all associated revenue. It took Giuliani years to bring back New York City; it has only taken Bloomberg 8 months to drive visitors out of the city. Amazing what greed can do.

[SheLion]

This is true for Maine only if you call yourself a restaurant.

Exactly, metesky! We have three wonderful bar/restaurants in northern Maine where we spend our money and give good tips.

One just remodeled. They did a beautiful job. But get this: You know how most places put the smokers in a enclosed glass "house?" Well, THIS place has the NON SMOKERS in there. Now THEY get to look out at the people smoking, drinking, eating and having FUN! I laughed my a$$ off when I saw that!

[Your Nightmare]

No, you didn't hit a sore spot, you just made a stupid statement with no reason or logic behind it and brought this "discussion" down a couple of levels.

The end of all this is: if you want to smoke at a restaurant, don't choose to go to NYC. You can choose to go to another city. The rest of us will be enjoying our fine meals that we can actually taste.

[SheLion]

Yay! A Republican is in office!

Bloomberg is a DemocRAT in RINO'S Clothing!

[robertpaulsen]

Well said, E Rocc! I would like to be protected from these self-appointed anti-smoking Nazis, the intolerant snobs who choose regulation over simple choice. I can hear the conversation between them:

"Where do you guys want to go for dinner?"

"I know this great place! Good food, great service, fun atmosphere, and a super-friendly staff."

"Doesn't that place allow smoking?"

"Oh yeah, I forgot. Rather than go to another restaurant, maybe we can get the mayor to ban smoking there!"

"Yeah! It's for their own good."

[WyldKard]

Amen. In Northampton, MA, they passed one of those comprehensive bans. The places that defied the ban and just paid the fines made more than enough money to cover their expenses, whereas the bars that complied with the ban went out of business...

Looks like my fiancee moved out of NYC just in time...

[SheLion]

By the way, I'm a part time bar employee and a non-smoker. I'd rather not be "protected" out of my extra $$$ by Big Brother, thank you very much.

Well said, Eric! It should be the business owner's choice of making their business smoking or not. NOT the governments! Bloomberg puts me in mind of a man who wants CONTROL!

[SheLion]

If we knew there would be no smoking in a place, we would go there often.

Actually, most decent restaurants and bars have huge smoker eaters installed today that pulls out the smoke AND any lingering stale smoke smell. So that's not really an issue either.

The places we go to have big smoke eaters, and people smoke, but the air is clear as glass.

You must be thinking of the old days, before the smoke eaters arrived.

[SheLion]

I don't mind people smoking in restaurants...as long as they don't exhale.

I bet you PEE IN POOLS THOUGH!

[Freemyland]

Don't you understand? The mere fact that other people are doing something of which they disapprove is enough to send some folks over the edge.

[SheLion]

If you expressed your attitude about any other group, it would be a "hate crime".

AMEN to THAT!

[E Rocc]

You can choose to go to another restaurant

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

If you like to smoke with your meals, you have a choice to stay at home.

The choice properly belongs to the owner of the establishment. That's the point we're trying to make. Not with Big Brother, making these decisions on "behalf" of those who might not make the Proper ones.

-Eric

[BikerNYC]

It should be the business owner's choice of making their business smoking or not.

I assume you would say the same thing about serving alcohol. Both products are regulated, are legal for adults but illegal for minors. Any business should be free to serve or not serve alcohol to adults, no? Those dry counties out there should be declared unlawful.

[TLBSHOW]

isn't this that fake republican that is really a demorat talking?

[SheLion]

If you like to smoke with your meals, you have a choice to stay at home.

You don't like the smell of smoke, then YOU stay home! How's that!

The world doesn't rotate on your A$$!

[metesky]

Not even realizing of course that it's those pesky smokers who made it such a fun atmosphere.

"Hey guys, this place isn't as much fun as it used to be! I wonder why?"