(no subject)

[lollardfish]

Any clue who I write to about the Minneapolis smoking ban? I spent money in bars last weekend in a Minneapolis bar /because/ it was smoke-free. Now the Hennepin Cnty Commission has temporarily reduced the ban to only apply to places that sell more food than liquor. Time to complain.

EDIT: After further review, while it seems clear that some bars have been hurt and that the demographic of bar use has changed (where people go, etc.), overall, the hospitality industry has remained pretty stable. So ... I feel bad for bars being hurt. My stance remains.

Comments

[mrsmodew.livejournal.com]

Check the blue pages in the phone book.

Some of us really don't mind the ban being lifted from bars. ;)

[cakmpls.livejournal.com]

It might do more good to write to the bars where you spent the money.

[groomporter.livejournal.com]

I've been waiting for someone to approach this issue from the A.D.A. angle. People with severe asthma, or emphysema are unfairly excluded from seeing certain live performances, or eating in some establishments due to the air quality in the building. A reasonable accommodation to these disabled persons, and other people who are sensitive to smoke would seem to be to keep the smoking elsewhere.

Therefore, my compromise is a ban on smoking in venues where they serve food, or hold live performances. Bars where the only attraction is drinking would be excluded. (Of course, state-wide, so it evens the competition between cities.)

[mia-mcdavid.livejournal.com]

It's a tough issue. I yield to no one in my loathing for second-hand smoke, but Minneapolis bars that I like are going under because of this. I wish they'd make a uniform ban for the State.

Yeah, I guess that does make me some sort of totalitarian Nazi. Tough. Your right to smoke ends where my nostrils begin.

[groomporter.livejournal.com]

Nah, not a Nazi.
Society has a right to restrict nuisance behavior
We have every legal right to listen to (shudder) Slim Witman at 3 a.m...
We have every legal right to watch gory, mad slasher films while eating Thanksgiving dinner...

-but I don't have the right to inflict those activities upon the senses of my neighbors. Our culture is increasingly looking at smoking as a nuisance behavior.

[msgillian.livejournal.com]

Check here