Well, most of it is good.......
GOOD MORNING, metesky, btw.
Rain up here and winds gusting to 30mph. Supposed to get high winds gusting to 50 mph this afternoon. What's happening down YOUR way???
Posted on 10/05/2002 3:49:51 AM PDT by SheLion
Four of five South Houston city council members voted Tuesday night to repeal a city ordinance pertaining to smoking in buildings owned by, or under the control of, the city of South Houston. Smokers are not, however, lighting up just anywhere and have been directed to one designated building owned by the city to smoke should they desire to do so. Eloise Smith, South Houston mayor, explained that the ordinance was repealed in an attempt to provide smokers an area that would protect them from being required to stand outside in the elements.
"People who smoke have rights, too," Smith said. "The old ordinance specified no smoking in any city building. We have a more in-depth ordinance now that will allow smoking in the old fire station behind City Hall."
The building housing the police department also has a covered area that allows for investigators to step outside with the person being questioned to smoke, she said. The officers had assured her that the covered area was sufficient for the needs of smokers.
"As the mayor and council of the city, I must represent the rights of all people," she said.
The ordinance, Smith said, still prevents smoking in any building except for the old fire station building. Several people employed at City Hall building routinely step outside to smoke, she said, and she had often seen them standing under umbrellas when it was raining.
If the ladies who step outside to smoke still desire to stand under umbrellas to smoke, that is their choice, Smith said. However, providing a building for anyone to use for smoking purposes would prevent employees and other visitors to city properties from breaking the law.
"If a nonsmoker comes inside the old fire station and states that the cigarette smoke bothers that person, then they all must put out their cigarettes," Smith said.
Smith said employees taking time to step out of the building to smoke did so during designated break periods provided by law, and productivity of employees was not an issue.
The city of South Houston is a small community, she said, and doesn't want to see anyone being cited for a misdemeanor offense. The employees and visitors to the city-owned properties are a close-knit group of people whose individual rights are all important to city leaders, she said.
Not that major a victory if one whiner can wander into the clearly marked smoking area and go into their little coughing routine.
You know the antis will have designated whiners lurking about.
;O)
Well, most of it is good.......
GOOD MORNING, metesky, btw.
Rain up here and winds gusting to 30mph. Supposed to get high winds gusting to 50 mph this afternoon. What's happening down YOUR way???
Someone TOLD me to send the rain east, so it finally got to your neck of the woods, huh?
I tend to agree with metesky on this. A win but not a major win.
It seems that someone finally had a little pity on the smokers outside routine but not enough to tell the anti-smoking whiners to go somewhere else. Just complain and we'll make those nasty smokers put their cigarettes out.
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Excuse me, but I don't see anything mentioned about Republicans or Democrats in this thread.
Actually, it was somewhat of a "win" or smokers.
voted Tuesday night to repeal a city ordinance pertaining to smoking in buildings owned by, or under the control of, the city of South Houston.
Eloise Smith, South Houston mayor, explained that the ordinance was repealed in an attempt to provide smokers an area that would protect them from being required to stand outside in the elements.
"People who smoke have rights, too," Smith said. "The old ordinance specified no smoking in any city building. We have a more in-depth ordinance now that will allow smoking in the old fire station behind City Hall."
"As the mayor and council of the city, I must represent the rights of all people," she said.
Bimbo, are you sure you have the right thread?
Good one, but I wouldn't be at all surprised if they really do that.
You got THAT right, Great Dane. I sure wish Maine would ease up!!!
Sorry if I offended you or anyone else by injecting Democrats and Republicans into this "smokers victory." But I still maintain that if smokers want real, nationwide, significant victories, I'm afraid they'll have to organize into a voting block - be someone's special interest group! Individual's rights (smokers or not) get short shrift these days, while "group rights" are catered to.
Our side works as hard as we can, although we receive no funding. We are all private citizens and volunteers. But we are picking up speed all across the United States and overseas. Check out:
and
So it seems, but ...
"If a nonsmoker comes inside the old fire station and states that the cigarette smoke bothers that person, then they all must put out their cigarettes," Smith said.
there is plenty of room for abuse.
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