| Author | Message | ||
     jamie Moderator Username: Jamie Post Number: 775 Registered: 6-2001  |
Smokefree legislation is up for a vote in the Senate Health Committee on Feb. 28. It's time for New Jersey to catch up and pass smokefree air legislation for workplaces and public places. A friend just let me know that Rhode Island is going smoke-free this week. Most of the Northeast is smokefree - NYC - California - Ireland. Here's some info: http://www.njgasp.org/alert.htm NOW please contact Governor Codey (deadline Feb. 23) and ask him to support smokefree air legislation in the Senate Health Committee on Feb. 28. Governor Richard Codey phone: 609 292-6000 fax: 609 292-3454 e-mail: go to www.state.nj.us homepage, in the right column, under "Make Your Voice Heard" and use "Click to send a message" Or send a free fax to Gov. Codey and key legislators via www.smokefree.net/nj/ Quick facts: · 90% of New Jerseyans want smokefree restaurants and bars (statewide poll, Dec. '04). · 30 minutes' exposure to secondhand smoke can have serious, even fatal effects (US Centers for Disease Control, April '04). · 11 other states, including those from Delaware to Maine, almost 2,000 U.S. municipalities, and 8 other nations, including Ireland and Italy, have smokefree legislation. · Current NJ laws allow smoking in workplaces, even doctors' offices, childcare centers, nursing homes. Let's take down the powerful tobacco lobby - this piece of legislation is a no-brainer in my opinion. | ||
| cmontyburns Citizen Username: Cmontyburns Post Number: 700 Registered: 12-2003  |
I want smokefree restaurants and bars. And parks, and streets, and bus stops. And everything, really. I can't stand to be around anyone who is smoking, or a place where people have been smoking. I loathe smoking. However: Smoking is not illegal. We treat it like it is, and while our hearts may be in the right place, our sense of the law is not. I find it absurd that smoking remains legal, and yet we basically continue to tax and restrict the hell out of it. You can bet that if tobacco companies weren't so rich, smoking would have been banned long ago. No, not because they wouldn't have been able to hire high-powered lobbyists, but because if states felt like they could no longer tap that golden goose, they'd just kill it. Tobacco companies are now paying zillions in court settlements -- and consumers are paying sky-high taxes on the products. Cigarettes are an economic boon to states. I say either make smoking illegal, or don't. But it's ridiculous to treat it like it's illegal, but allow it to be sold so long as everyone keeps paying you off. I have seen absolutely no figures to back this up, but I would imagine that the exorbitant taxes on cigarettes are disproportionately shouldered by lower-income folks. | ||
| e roberts Citizen Username: Wnwd00 Post Number: 317 Registered: 3-2004 |
cmonty, while i agree with you that it is legal there are unintended side effects of smoking that must be considered making it a unique issue. there are not many things that are legal, and can physically hurt someone even if they do not do it, smoking however is. so i am a non-smoker, why should my health be put at risk because someone wants to smoke in a bar? better example, why should the some poor part time waitress or waiter attempting to get through school have to be subjected to the potentially harmful effects of smoke? i look at it like this, in the states and areas that have banned smoking i have heard very little of bars and other places closing or going out of business, and thats massachusetts, california, and most recently NYC. so despite what bar and resaturante owners say there will be little effect on their business because it effects all businesses. second, everyone in the bar or whatever is at least a little bit healthier, while the alochol or food may not be the best for you, at least they will not be breathing smoke. and most importantly i will not have to breath smoke and put my health at risk just to go out and grab some dinner. we always talk about smokers rights what about mine to go out and not having to cough and smell terrible? i see very little actual harm in a smoking ban, i do however understand your concern over banning a legal activity, and if it was over something that did not pose a risk to my health i might be with you. | ||
| Joan Supporter Username: Joancrystal Post Number: 4993 Registered: 5-2001 |
There are a number of reasons why we should all be in favor of no-smoking legislation: 1. Second hand smoke is extremely dangerous and a major cause of death in this country. 2. Making it more difficult for smokers to smoke may encourage them to quit or at least cut down (yes, I know smoking is an addiction and it takes more than a little inconvenience to make someone stop but it is worth a try). 3. People who smoke cost the rest of us a lot in health insurance, life insurance costs, and government benefits for the disabled. Smokers also use often scarce health resources that could be better directed towards less preventable maladies. | ||
| cmontyburns Citizen Username: Cmontyburns Post Number: 701 Registered: 12-2003 |
So Joan, why not outlaw smoking then? And I don't just mean in one county or one state. Why does it make sense to have something so dangerous legal in one city, but not another? | ||
| Kathy Leventhal Citizen Username: Kml Post Number: 34 Registered: 9-2001 |
Jaime, thanks for starting this thread. I've proposed that at a minimum, the Township Committee support Sen. Adler's bill with a Resolution. First, though, I spoke with a couple of restaurant/bar owners that still allow smoking and invited them to the 2/1, Township Committee meeting to present their views. The concern from the business perspective is that if here in Maplewood we banned smoking in food establishments, patrons would take their business to neighboring towns. The St. James Gate and O'Reilly's owners came to the meeting. They are OK with a law banning smoking throughout NJ. NOTE: Add Cuba to the list of places that have a ban on smoking in enclosed public places. Kathy Leventhal, Maplewood Township Committee | ||
| lumpyhead Citizen Username: Lumpyhead Post Number: 1123 Registered: 3-2002 |
I don't smoke but socialize with those that do. It doesn't bother me (with proper ventilation)but what does bother me is people constantly getting up to leave a restaurant or gathering to go smoke. Why can't we leave it up to the particular owner?? If you don't like smoking or do, you can choose the establishment of your choice. I don't get why people want to push their own views on everyone else. If someone is against alcohol and can list a bizillion reasons why it is bad, causes death, drunk driving etc. would you want it banned or outlawed? | ||
| Albatross Citizen Username: Albatross Post Number: 520 Registered: 9-2004  |
I would want it restricted. But cigarettes are different from alcohol, in that most people drink responsibily and do not by default cause physical harm to others. Smoking on the other hand, *does* cause harm by default to people around the smoker. | ||
| Taylor M Citizen Username: Anotherusername Post Number: 309 Registered: 8-2004 |
County- Alcohol is also legal; but it has restrictions. You can't drink on public streets, for example. Can't just pop open a beer in a movie theater. Other people don't end up with stinky smelling hair and clothes because the person sitting next to them is drinking. Something should be done about smoking in public places. It effects all of us, not to mention polutes the air. I avoid places that allow smoking. | ||
| mickey Citizen Username: Mickey Post Number: 229 Registered: 10-2001 |
If St. James's Gate banned smoking, I honestly don't believe they would lose business. In fact, more people would go without coming home smelling like an ashtray. And I'll suggest this again: Until the smoking ban passes (oh, I hope it does!!) make one night a week NON-SMOKING at the Gate. See how it goes. I'd go. Anyone else? Great thread, and great legislation. I hope it passes! | ||
| jamie Moderator Username: Jamie Post Number: 777 Registered: 6-2001 |
Yes, I brought that idea up with Mr. Meade. He kinda laughed when I suggested choosing Friday or Saturday. Mr. Meade also commented in front of the township committee that he had only 3 complaints about the smoking since they've been open. I suggest to everyone that they should be more vocal in regards to this issue. I did think a town wide ban would be good, if for anything else - it may encourage other towns to follow. But the statewide ban should go through - what is the real reasoning not to pass this? Would people stop smoking and as a result the state will lose money from the cigarette tax? Is AC making sure it doesn't pass because smoking and gambling go side by side? Make sure you call, fax or email your congressperson in the next 2 days! | ||
| Spare_o Citizen Username: Spare_o Post Number: 197 Registered: 9-2003 |
I sent an email to Codey. Jamie--Thanks for starting this thread. I wasn't aware that this was a viable piece of legislation. | ||
| Lydia Supporter Username: Lydial Post Number: 939 Registered: 5-2001 |
Jamie - Thanks for starting this thread. I totally support not allowing smoking in indoor places. There are studies that show NY and CA haven't suffered economically after passing their non-smoking ordinances. Smoke-filled bars and restuarants should be a thing of the past. I hate it when I go out for a quick beer and have to air out my clothes, wash my hair and just feel so gross when I get home because of all the indoor air pollution. I've stopped going to the gate because it's just so smelly. I used to work in a cabaret in meat-eating, Marlboro smoking Chicago that eventually banned smoking. They had only a handful of complaints, but the owner (wisely IMO) reasoned that every "official" objection represented hundreds of people who didn't speak up. Esquire or GQ had a bit this month on the 100 best and worst cities for smoking ordinances -- I was surprised that Newark NJ was in the top 10 "best" smoke-free cities. | ||
| birdbrain Citizen Username: Birdbrain Post Number: 74 Registered: 2-2003  |
I think it would be absurd for Maplewood to unilaterally restrict smoking for its business. Why make them be at _any_ disadvantage to surrounding businesses? If the town council is so concerned about micro-managing the interior of businesses, why not start by limiting nail salons to 6 or less per block? -David "Always Smokin'" Wren-Hardin | ||
| Miss L Toe Citizen Username: Miss_l_toe Post Number: 176 Registered: 10-2003 |
Well, if smoking has been banned in pubs in Ireland, I can't see any reason why it shouldn't be banned in St. James' Gate. I'd love to be able to send an e-mail to Codey, but I'm not a US citizen and therefore can't vote...my complaint would probably be disregarded? | ||
| Lydia Supporter Username: Lydial Post Number: 940 Registered: 5-2001 |
David - a non-smokiing ordinance isn't necessarily going to put bars at a disadvantage to other towns. I looked into NJ smoking ordinances a while back, off the top of my head the stats on adult smoking went something like this: 10-20% of NJ adults smoke cigarettes. The highest percentage of smokers earn $50,000 or less per year. Maplewood demographics suggest that our population is likely below the NJ norm for smokers. Let's assume that 10% of Maplewood adults smoke cigarettes. Add another 5% for people who only smoke when they drink alcohol. That leaves 85% of adult consumers as non-smokers, and as non-smokers they would likely be drawn to smoke-free establishments. When I was a district leader in Maplewood I had the opportunity to stand in the foyers of hundreds of homes in my district. If it was a smoking house I could tell from the smell or ashtrays on the porch. There are some houses where I probably didn't know the deal, but out of about 350 houses that I visited at least 3 X's a year, I can guesstimate that fewer than 10 households were smokers. My observation is unscientific, but I think it's a good sub-section of the tobacco habits of 12 streets in Maplewood. I think business would stay the same or increase for bars and restuarants if smoking were legislated. | ||
| Joan Supporter Username: Joancrystal Post Number: 4994 Registered: 5-2001 |
Miss L Toe: Politicians look to see how everyone, not just the voters, in their constituency feel about a given issue before they state their position on piece of legislation. Being a non-citizen shouldn't enter into the equation. cmontyburns: I don't think making smoking illegal in the privacy of your own home would be any more effective than Prohibition. You can't legislate people away from their addictions. If you were to suggest that people smoking in public spaces, especially enclosed spaces with poor ventilation were a lot like suicide bombers in that they were taking a great many innocent people with them on their death-quest, I would have to agree with you. | ||
| luv2cruise Citizen Username: Luv2cruise Post Number: 323 Registered: 12-2002 |
Let's outlaw MOL. There's a lot of pollution that comes from here. | ||
| Brett Citizen Username: Bmalibashksa Post Number: 1471 Registered: 7-2003 |
Never happen. Atlantic City + Biggest Horse Track in the US = Billions in taxes and donations. Betters like to smoke. | ||
| Kathy Leventhal Citizen Username: Kml Post Number: 35 Registered: 9-2001 |
Point of information: the bill which would ban smoking in NJ in indoor public places and workplaces would exempt casinos. Kathleen M. Leventhal Maplewood Township Committee |
