-------------------------------------------------- REMINDER: Only 2 Posts Per Day Per Person -------------------------------------------------- Shame on *you*, Paul.
Dave, still a smoker himself, and a man who still spends much time at Nick's place, has risen above the self-serving pressures of even his bar-owner buddies and friends in the interest of serving the public health. It is grandstanding to attack Dave Thune for this, not for Dave to be risking a lot of hellfire and damnation from entrenched bar owners whom he has served well over the years. It is not the City Council's job to preserve and protect the sensibilities or the profits of business people who pollute the air, it is to protect the public health, even at the cost - most likely temporary - of revenues and profits in liquor sales. We have a bunch of really good people on our City Council, but they all need lots of support as they consider this ordinance because you know they'll be swamped by the hospitality industry who couldn't care less about public health, only for their bottom line. Especially for our friends, Kathy Lantry Ward 7 - she'll be under the gun), Debbie Montgomery (Ward 1 - also likely to hear from opponents) and Pat Harris (Ward 3 - where most restaurants already bar smoking these days) They need your love and affection - and your promise to back them up as they vote to save your children's lives and the lives of their voting constituents. They need to know that voting for a ban will not drive them from office at the next election, that time will make this vote one of the best they've ever cast, even among the naysayers. It's for the children and a future of clean air for them - and us. Tell those councilmembers they'll be on the road to sainthood - well, maybe not sainthood, but lots of kudos - if they set aside the pressures of the industries that profit from smoking and vote for the kids. And call or write to congratulate Dave Thune for this amazing initiative. Back to Kuettel's post (he lives elsewhere anyway): Bars and restaurants - publicly licensed accommodations - which allow smoking anywhere are discriminating against the vast majority of the public - and potential patrons who do not smoke. They're also endangering their employees (even smokers) - against the law - by maintaining an air quality that OSHA would shut down under any other circumstances. But even for smokers, the danger in these public accommodations is deadly. And, as one cancer physician (oncologist) told Dave and listeners on today's Midday program tackling this subject, that, if anyone should complain about a likely drop in business from smoking bans, it probably ought to be cancer physicians. It was humorous, but indicative of the empty arguments that business people advance when the health of their own customers is at stake. I absolutely believe that the greatest hue and cry will come from bar and restaurant owners who themselves smoke and want to do so in their own establishments, the public's need for clean air notwithstanding. Bar and restaurant owner who do not smoke are more likely to accept this as the inevitable evolution of public health inititives designed to stop cancer and pulmonary diseases among young people and families addicted by the presence of second-hand smoke. You want to risk the second-hand stuff to play with your friends, Paul. Go ahead. That is no reason why we should hold off on a smoking ban for everyone else. on 5/6/04 11:55 AM, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: > From: "Paul Kuettel" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Subject: [StPaul] Granstander Thune Strikes Again > > Hi All! > > I really like Dave as a person, but he is off the deep end on this. My first > thought, even before Mr. Hare brought it up, is that Thune wants to quit and > is using his power to ruin the fun for everyone in the his own personal > interest. > > I wonder if Dave has polled his buddies like Nick Mancini and all the other > 7th Street hangouts. What about Payne Avenue? Downtown hotel bars that need > convention business? I'm just scratching the surface. > > Politicos with no business sense should stay the heck out of areas they don't > understand. My mom quit 30 years ago, my dad 15. They go to bars up at their > lake place all the time. My wife quit before we married but has recently, > sadly, taken it back up. I never smoked (one vice I have managed to avoid ;-) > > I like to have a beer and play trivia at Ferns from time to time and I > selfishly wouldn't mind coming home without stinky hair and clothes. But my > regular bar is Ol' Mexico, safely into Roseville. Close, convenient, friendly > and relatively cheap. All my bar buddies smoke, so I'll pay the price > second-hand to enjoy their company and our fierce but friendly trivia > contests. > > I'm sure the outrage will be heard by the time the Council hears this > ordinance, but I'll bet they'll put it off and vote to pay for a study. The > camel's nose is under the tent. > > Shame on you, Dave Thune. > > Cheers! > > PK _____________________________________________ NEW ADDRESS FOR LIST: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To subscribe, modify subscription, or get your password - visit: http://www.mnforum.org/mailman/listinfo/stpaul Archive Address: http://www.mnforum.org/mailman/private/stpaul/
