Because restaurants and bars are public spaces! For the umpteenth time, bars and restaurants are licensed facilities in Minneapolis; they have to conform to public health standards which are established by the city. The owner does not have the authority to determine which public health standards he/she wishes to abide by!
This is issue is not and has never been about "rights". It is a very simple question about whether or not second hand tobacco smoke in enclosed places poses a hazard to people. If such a hazard exists, then communities are free to take action to eliminate or at least minimize the hazard. The evidence from myriad studies done about this issue is compelling and persuasive to virtually every public health professional and agency in the U.S. Communities therefore, are responding and implementing ordinances and laws to protect the public by eliminating second hand smoke in public places - including bars and restaurants. Jim Bernstein Fulton -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Tuesday, August 02, 2005 2:59 PM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: [Mpls] Forum Frets and Board Boredom Why do those people who do not want to be exposed to smoke enter the enclosed space?...Particularly if the owner of that enclosed space wants to allow smoking. The law respects almost nobody's rights or choices, save those who don't want to open their own smoke-free establishments, but want the benefit of such. I just keep picturing the Pioneer Press photo of the guy who got this ball rolling...Dave Thune celebrating the smoking ban going into effect with a glass of water raised in a toast...for goodness' sakes...at least have a beer and support the business as you effectively force him to turn away his real customers! Anthony Thompson Standish -----Original Message----- From: Jim Bernstein <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: 'Michael Atherton' <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; [email protected] Sent: Tue, 2 Aug 2005 14:21:32 -0500 Subject: RE: [Mpls] Forum Frets and Board Boredom To quote Michael Atherton: ". . . which is why I spend so much time defending the rights of others to make their own choices as long as they don't inflict their choices on other people." Smoking in enclosed public spaces is a near perfect example of inflicting the smoker's choice on other people. The decision to prohibit it respects the right of a community to protect public health. Jim Bernstein Fulton -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Michael Atherton Sent: Wednesday, July 27, 2005 10:51 PM To: [email protected] Subject: RE: [Mpls] Forum Frets and Board Boredom I'm not worried about where I can light up; I don't smoke. I'm worried about people who feel that they are justified in setting moral priorities for others against their will. There are a lot of things that interest other people that bore me the heck out of me. So many in fact that it scares me as to what the world would be like if everyone thought exactly as I do. Which is why I spend so much time defending the rights of others to make their own choices (as long as they don't inflict their choices on other people). Michael Atherton Prospect Park REMINDERS: 1. Be civil! Please read the NEW RULES at http://www.e-democracy.org/rules. If you think a member is in violation, contact 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 Civil City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[email protected] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls -- No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. Version: 7.0.338 / Virus Database: 267.9.5/58 - Release Date: 7/25/2005 -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. Version: 7.0.338 / Virus Database: 267.9.8/61 - Release Date: 8/1/2005 REMINDERS: 1. Be civil! Please read the NEW RULES at http://www.e-democracy.org/rules. If you think a member is in violation, contact 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 Civil City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[email protected] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. Version: 7.0.338 / Virus Database: 267.9.9/62 - Release Date: 8/2/2005 REMINDERS: 1. Be civil! Please read the NEW RULES at http://www.e-democracy.org/rules. If you think a member is in violation, contact 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 Civil City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[email protected] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
