Posted on 09/15/2003 8:11:35 AM PDT by Sub-Driver
Smokers 'Taking it to the Streets' to protest ban By VANESSA THOMAS News Staff Reporter 9/15/2003
A collective puff of cigarette smoke will permeate the air outside of restaurants and bars across Western New York tonight, when patrons stand outside with placards and light up to protest the new smoking ban. During the statewide protest, dubbed "Taking it to the Streets," customers at participating venues will be asked to step outside for a brief protest starting at 8:30 p.m., to show their disapproval of a smoking law, in effect since July 24, that has banned smoking in all workplaces, including bars, restaurants and bowling alleys.
Protests are planned for least three local venues - in Kenmore, Niagara Falls and North Tonawanda.
Organized by the Empire State Restaurant and Tavern Association, the rally is meant for those who cannot attend the group's larger protest, which is scheduled for Tuesday morning on the steps of the state legislative office building in Albany.
"People are frustrated and they feel helpless, so by participating in the protest they'll feel like their voices are being heard," said Western New York organizer Judi Justiana.
"Our customers feel like lepers every time they have to step outside to smoke. . . . The state went too far with this law and it's causing major job losses."
Patrick Hoak, president of the Innkeepers Association of Western New York, said the smoking law caused five restaurants in Western New York to close down. He estimated that restaurants are suffering a 20 to 60 percent loss in business because of it.
"It's hypocritical for (the state) to say smoking is bad for our health, yet they take the sales tax (on cigarettes)," said Hoak. "This is not about health. This is about choice. . . . Don't put a knife in the back of restaurants. We need help now."
Hoak said the bar and restaurant owners hope the rallies will push state legislators to amend the law to allow smoking if there is an air purification system in the bar area.
The Empire State Restaurant and Tavern Association has also filed a lawsuit in federal court in Syracuse against the state to challenge the constitutionality of the law.
Nevertheless, anti-smoking advocates at the Center for a Tobacco Free New York say the smoking ban helps protect employees and patrons from the toxic effects of cigarettes.
Lesley Battaglia, manager at Betty's Grill in North Tonawanda, said the anti-smoking initiative has crippled her family business of 40 years.
"Summer's bad to begin with but this just adds to the struggle," said Battaglia, adding that profit is down about 30 percent. "We're already dreading the winter."
Justiana, owner of Judi's Lounge, 257 Military Road, Niagara Falls - where one of the local rallies will be held - said each "Taking it to the Streets" rally will last between 15 and 30 minutes.
Protests are also planned for St. James Place, a sports bar and pizzeria at 1531 Military in Kenmore; and the corner of Webster and Tremont streets in North Tonawanda's restaurant district.
And you were appointed god exactly when?
Egomaniacal twit!
But I'll grant you being ugly and senile does generate some sympathy.
Oh yes. The voice of reason.
Your spirit of fairness and sense of compromise come through loud and clear.
Have you considered going back to wherever you came from? Just a thought.
Your choice of comparison tells me all I need to know about you. I don't know what others here may do, but as far as I'm concerned, you can spend the rest of this thread talking to yourself.
Bet you aren't a favorite in the single-wide section, either.
Have a nice day.
Get over yourselves. Smoking in bars is fine. Smoking in restaurants is an affront. Period. End of story.
It should be up to the owner of the establishment to decide if there will be smoking or not... Although the restaurant or bar is open to the public, it's still private property, and as such, the government has no business limiting what the private actions of the patrons are, as long as the owner of the establishment is OK with it.
Of course, given the way that the states decide to regulate EVERYTHING, there's no way that something that's legal outside the bar (i.e. smoking on the street) would ever be made legal inside the bar.
Mark
Not at all.
That's the beauty of this "government by neurotics" madness. It is much easier, perfectly safe and they can't fine you.
Just walk around with an unlit cigarette in your mouth.
Drives them absolutely bonkers.
I like it.
So, who can I sue for making it so damned hot here in Houston? It's ruined my life, I can't bike, walk very far, hell, even out the door without breaking a sweat.
LOL- I know, it's a non sequitor... but it was fun while it lasted!!
I think I'll have to report you to the NAAMP ("National Association for the Advancement of Mental Pygmies").
/ just kiding
Regarding "Patsy Klien", it's actually spelled "Klein" (for future reference).
Here's the deal. I began teaching myself electric guitar at age 14 -- both rhythm and lead. Then bass guitar a year later. Then acoustic piano three years later; both classical and rock. Then keyboard synthesizers.
I put together a band in Los Angeles and we entered the "Beatles Sound-A-Like" contest for the annual Beatles Convention, at the Bonaventure Hotel in Downtown Los Angeles (as seen in the Clint Eastwood movie; "In the Line of Fire" and Johnny Depp in the movie "Nick of Time"). We competed with 60 other entrants. Only 10 were selected (out of the original 60) to play before a live audience. We played before some 3,000 plus people in the California Room and won third place. I sang and played all the guitar parts for "I Want You (She's So Heavy"), from the Abbey Road Beatles album. We got a standing ovation.
We were the only band that played a "late" Beatles song; all the other nine bands played real early stuff ("I Want To Hold Your Hand", "Norweigian Wood", etc.); and the first and second place winners "cheated" (in my opinion) by using props such as Beatles suits, Hoffner bass guitars, Ludwig drum sets, etc.
And speaking as a musician, Metallica sucks creatively. They're like the Brittany Spears version of head-banger crap. A one-note band.
The bad part about this is: some people run up bar bills, then say they are going "outside for a cigarette," and keep booking! Leaving the bar stuck with the tab. This is not working out.
Exactly!
Speaking of one note bands and master of 3 chords. Look no further than The Beatles.
The depth and range of human emotion and the human condition touched upon by Hetfield's lyrics are 2nd to none. And you sound like someone who tried to keep up with Hetfield's down picking and couldn't so you just trash talk. I have seen better than 100 bands live in all settings. From tiny bars to 100,000 plus outdoor shows. And no one come close to putting on the show that Metallica does. No band is more powerful live. None.
Beatles ever play to a crowd of greater than 500,000? Metallica has.
I didn't know you also played rhythm. Brother-from-another-Mother and all that...
What is the difference between the government telling a business (by force) that it can not allow smoking and that it MUST allow smoking?
Would you support a government imposed ban on smoking in private residences? If not, why not? If so, why?
Your so cute!
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