I have to say I really appreciate your willingness to discuss this important issue publicly. I also applaud your effort to ensure the language in the ordinance accomplishes a clear and concise mission and doesn't open up a Pandora's box of law suits against the city and bar/restaurant owners or create other problems as it is trying to solve one. As you already know, the strength of the ordinance language will be tested is in a court of law.
My particular concern is Nicollet. We have a lot of restaurants and bars that string down Nicollet. If all the people who were used to smoking inside those establishments start gathering on the street we are definitely inviting problems. While I have mentioned my concern about people flicking cigarette butts on the street and how awful that will look, I am just as concerned about the potential of creating opportunities for other types of crime. The crime that exists downtown right now at bar closing. Perpetrators will target people hanging outside to smoke and pickpocket or mug them maybe at gun point because they are easy targets. My neighbor across the street has been hit coming out of the 90's on more than once occasion. You know it also presents an opportunity for fights to break out when people are "smurfing" or "smurting" or whatever you called it. When this starts happening to visitors from other cities the reputation fall out will have more serious consequences. Then there is the issue of public urination. How many people will decide as long as they are outside blowing a butt they will just take a leak too? I am not saying it isn't a reason to go ahead with the smoking ban, I am just saying we have to pull our heads out of the sand and make sure we are addressing the other issues that can and will certainly arise as a result of this. I am wondering if it would help to make the start date of the new ordinance January 2nd. That is the dead of winter and I don't think many people will be spending much time smoking outside. That will give the city and the public a chance to ease into the fall out from the ordinance and develop a plan to deal with it over time. If you start this in July when the bars and restaurants are in full swing the impact may be huge. Personally, I think we could have a bigger impact if we just slapped a $5 a pack tax on cigarettes in conjunction with the new ordinance. My girlfriends daughter is paying $9 for a pack of cigarettes in Toronto. I suspect the price has made many people quit completely or cut way way back. Quite frankly my decision to quit smoking for the final time was largely because it was getting just too expensive to continue the habit. The $5 a pack tax would pay for all the extra police we are going to need to deal with the problems. At the very least restaurants and bars need to provide ash receptacles outside and I suspect a reasonable distance from the door so there isn't gridlock at the entryways. Barb Lickness Whittier ===== "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has." -- Margaret Mead REMINDERS: 1. Think a member has violated the rules? Email the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract ________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
