(Delaware) Smoking ban fires up opponets

The Delaware Business Ledger ^ | August 2002 | Diane Cook

[Gabz]

I know it's a long one folks - but needs major disection

[Gabz]

We were getting these cards in the mail with people’s names and addresses supporting the bill. It was a tremendous grass roots effort."

Sorry, Representative Wagner, there was NOTHING grassroot about this. it was a highly financed and well organized effort designed by people in new York and California. The email sent out told their people to not mention their affiliation, so it would look like a grass roots efforst.

It is such a shame that so many Delaware Representatives fell for this trick.

[Gabz]

We were getting these cards in the mail with people’s names and addresses supporting the bill. It was a tremendous grass roots effort."

Sorry, Representative Wagner, there was NOTHING grassroot about this. it was a highly financed and well organized effort designed by people in new York and California. The email sent out told their people to not mention their affiliation, so it would look like a grass roots efforst.

It is such a shame that so many Delaware Representatives fell for this trick.

[Gabz]

"Massachusetts passed a similar law," says Wagner. (Pedestrians) got so tired of people coming out from bars onto the street to smoke, that the legislators repealed it. We don’t know all the ramifications of this law as we move forward. Given time, the marketplace is going to take care of it."

Rep. Wagner, you should have thought of letting the market place take care of it to begin with.

I also don't think it was the entire state of Taxachusetts, I think it was nly select municipalities, I could be wrong though.

[Gabz]

Sorry to anyone getting a double ping - I'm borrowing sheLion's list!!!

The Central Delaware Chamber of Commerce took a strong position against the smoking ban, says executive director Jeannette Wessel. "We are concerned about Dover Downs, but we’re just as concerned about the little taverns, bars, and restaurants. Once those businesses are gone, you are not going to get it back. I think they put the cart before the horse because no economic study had been done on this legislation."

Ms. Wessel is correct. The smaler places in Downtown Dover are having enough problems attracting folks downtown because of other problems - they know what is going to happen.

[SheLion]

Nice post, Gabz. I am still reading!!

[Born to Conserve]

Smoking and peeing in public should both be banned. They're both unhealthy, they're both smelly, and they're both done by inconsiderate losers.

(Watch the the panicky attacks by all the smokers, many of whom will insist they don't smoke, and are therefore unbiassed -- great entertainment!).

I poke, they jump!

[Just another Joe]

"I have always voted anti-smoking, " with your feet? he says. "No one needs to inhale others' smoke. It's a health issue, not an economic one."

If it WAS a health issue instead of an economic one there would be no need to "level the playing field".

I can remember when the Christiana Mall went smoke free people said it was impossible. But they did it. The same with state buildings, and they're smoke free too."

I'll bet it wasn't the legislature that MADE the Christiana mall go smoke free, was it? And state buildings are OWNED by the state. That gives the state the opportunity to make them smoke free also.
Is the local tavern or restaurant OWNED by the state?

"A level playing field" seemed to be the biggest area of contention.

Again with, "the level playing field". Why does there need to be a "level playing field"? Is it because the smoking allowed taverns and restaurants would make more money than the no smoking ones? I wonder why that would be?

Given time, the marketplace is going to take care of it."

SURE it will. Once this law goes into effect what makes you think that it will EVER be repealed unless the STATE starts feeling an economic impact from it?

Many have told me (non-smokers) will go to Delaware Park who did not go before."

SURE, we've heard that one before. It never seems to work out that way though.

A lot of people don't go to bars and taverns because they don't want to smell the smoke. It all opens up a new level of clientele."

BWAHAHAHAHA! And takes away a lot of PREVIOUS clientele

[headsonpikes]

Luckily for us all, Socialism is a Religion of Peace.

Feel free to simply crush the smokers, like cigarette butts, under your boot.

We know what you are.

[Just another Joe]

They're both unhealthy, they're both smelly, and they're both done by inconsiderate losers.

Let us meet and debate face to face, loser, and we'll see who GETS poked.
I AM a smoker, will tell you that I smoke, and still tell you, "Bite Me, Bub!"
I am tired of being demonized ONLY because I smoke, by people that have never met me in person, and by people that have a 'Holier than thou' attitude.
If you want to legislate morality you are as bad as any liberal demoncrat out there.

[Gabz]

I will give Gilligan a bit of credit - he has always been anti and has never hidden that fact. It's a personal thing with him. I've known the guy 20 years and has never changed his position.

As to this "level playing field" hogwash. I don't understand what they are talking about. There is no such thing as a level playing field in the hospitality/entertainment indusry. If there was every place would serve identical food and beverages and have the identical entertainment.

Why, when it comes to the type of establishment and the clientele the owner choses to entertain it is OK, as long as that clientele does not smoke???

[Gabz]

You're weird.

[SheLion]

"I have always voted anti-smoking, "he says. "No one needs to inhale others’ smoke. It’s a health issue, not an economic one."

That’s BS and we all know it.

Once those businesses are gone, you are not going to get it back. I think they put the cart before the horse because no economic study had been done on this legislation."

This bill was never about money. This bill is about health and in a state where we are all ashamed of our cancer rate and our cancer death rate. Perhaps this will help us with those numbers. "

Cancer doesn’t discriminate. And most cancers are NOT caused by smoking.

Gilligan says. "I have a right to have my insurance rates as low as possible," he says. "People smoking increase that cost.

I WANT TO SLAP THIS IDIOT! We smokers pay MORE then our share of health insurance. And MOST of us HAVE our own health insurance, you lame brained idiot! Gilligan better get a little more educated before he/she goes spewing this deceitful lie!

It all opens up a new level of clientele."

Oh Yes! And aren’t THEY fun! Non smokers do not stay as long and do not tip as well. New clientele? Oh right! I’m sure your going to make BILLIONS with THAT bunch!

[ohioman]

Well, chalk me up as a loser. However, I bet you would just love my "loser" salary. :)

[strela]

I poke, they jump!

You troll, we laugh.

[SheLion]

Can't leave THIS out!!

[Gabz]

Oh Yes! And aren’t THEY fun! Non smokers do not stay as long and do not tip as well. New clientele? Oh right! I’m sure your going to make BILLIONS with THAT bunch!

You're right.

I'm inclined to go along with Denis McGlynn of Dover Downs with his estimates of the losses the state is going to take over this. The casinos in Atlantic City and West Virginia are NOT that far away, especialy for those coming from Maryland and Pennsylvania. In many cases they are closer.

What most people don't understand is that the slots operations at the 3 race tracks in Delaware are controlled by the state Lottery and the state gets 35% of the proceeds. That's a big chunk of change.

[Born to Conserve]

Oooo! A nibble!

[Born to Conserve]

"Salary." I guess that means you still have work?