The reason a law was not proposed re: Bonfire was 2 or 3 fold. First, a City Council cannot pass a law that applies to only one establishment. Equal protection clause of the Constitution. Secondly, the issue with Bonfire and their doors went to an administrative hearing at the City of Saint Paul. The Hearing Officer accepted the argument from Bonfire's owners that their smoke did not drift out into the halls and thus the doors did not need to closed, "except when entertainment" was playing. And to make the argument worse, Bonfires owners claimed it was not cigarette smoke, but smoke from their pizza ovens that was drifting into the halls. So when there was no entertainment, smoke freely flowed into the halls of Victoria Crossing East and into Cafe Latte. And then even when the doors were supposed to be closed, as it exists to this day, Bonfire's bouncers, hold the doors open for extended periods of time. I agree with Andy the problem with smoking in Saint Paul, is a lot larger than Bonfire and existed long before Bonfire ever came into existence. Bonfire however was the catalyst that started the reaction. It probably would have happened anyway, sooner rather than later, but Bonfires owners lit the fuse with their totally arrogant attitudes. Dann Dobson Summit Hill
From: John Harris Date: Mon, 7 Feb 2005 05:14:58 -0800 (PST) If I wanted to avoid smoke, I would have had to avoid Cafe Latte, since I always got a blast from Bonfire. I think I have written this before, but if Dennis should be P.O.'ed at anybody, it should be with the owner's of Bonfire. If they hadn't been so arrogant to begin with, defending their patrons right to smoke, or by being civilized business owners, and simply agreeing to close their doors, it would have never become an issue. Why aren't we proposing an ordinance to get Bonfire to close their doors? that seems to be the issue that started this. John Harris webber-camden _____________________________________________ To Join: St. Paul Issues Forum Rules Discussion Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ____________________________________________ 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/ _____________________________________________ To Join: St. Paul Issues Forum Rules Discussion Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ____________________________________________ 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/
