I disagree somewhat - there are active campaigns afoot - on both sides. I believe looking at those campaigns is a legitimate focus. If the SPPP were to give more coverage to one side or the other, its a legitimate issue; if the Chamber of Commerce is taking positions without polling its membership, its a legitimate issue; if the Chamber is organizing the ban the ban effort, its a legitimate issue; if the Chamber or any Coucilmember were receiving tobacco industry contributions, no matter how well disguised, its a legitimate issue; and to be fair, if the pro ban folks had a profit/grant motive, its a legitimate issue.
To my mind the issue is simple and I ask those who oppose the ban "Do you really want to make money from, and be aligned with an industry making money from, disease and death?" And, of course, the irony is that since there are more folks who do not smoke, it is likely that the ban will be a benefit not a burden on retail establishments.
Brian Bates, MacGroveland. (the worst kind of anti-tobacco advocate - a former 2-pack a dayer).
List Manager wrote:
I am going to ask once more, that we try and remove the personalities from this discussion.
The attacks on Dave Thune appear irrelevant. And a discussion over over the "sincerity" of Kevin (from the Eagle Street Grill) appears fairly pointless. We're not going to come to any kind of agreement on that issue - nor should it really influence the outcome of this decision.
My own support or lack of support for the Smoking ban has nothing to do with Dave Thune's gallery or Kevin's sincerity.
The legitimate issues are hand, in my opinion, are:
1) Will a smoking ban really put people out of business?
2) Do the health risks of second hand smoke justify the policy, even if some businesses MIGHT go out of business?
3) What are the rights of business owners and patrons in this case?
4) If the city imposes this ban, is there anything that the city can or should do to either reduce the risk for bar owners or compensate them for potential losses?
5) The role of the city in regulating private businesses, in this case restaurants and bars.
6) Other suggestions...?
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