NEW YORK SMOKING BAN

Writing for the Cybercast News Service, Steve Brown reports this story of the current status on the smoking ban in New York and the resulting negative impact on business.

The March 30th ban on smoking in restaurants and bars is being vigorously enforced and, as of September 16th, health inspectors and city officials have issued 524 tickets for violations. According to Nancy Miller, New York Health Department assistant commissioner for tobacco control, thirty establishments have been ticketed more than once.

Lawmakers are intent on maintaining the current ban and some have even proposed widening the scope. State Assemblyman Peter Grannis, a Manhattan Democrat, is sponsoring a bill to ban smoking in the privacy of a person's own car. And, based upon a recent poll, the public supports the smoking ban by more than 3 to 1.

Plainly, strong opposition to the ban comes from the restaurant and bar trade organizations. Patrick Hoak, president of the New York Innkeepers Association, said the law caused five western New York restaurants to shut down, and caused an estimated 20 to 60 percent loss in business among those remaining open.

The Empire State Restaurant and Tavern Association (ESRTA), whose members estimate a 20 to 40 percent decrease in business since the law took effect, organized a statewide protest against the smoking ban. Called "Taking It to the Streets," it included demonstrations outside the state legislative building in Albany. Scott Wexler, Executive Director of ESRTA, told CNSNews.com, "Watching the news clips, both electronic and print, we seem to be getting our message across. I think they're presenting our message as a more credible message than our adversaries."

Wexler also stated that a motion has been filed in the US District Court of the Northern District of New York for an injunction against the law. They are waiting for the court's decision.

The President of the New York Nightlife Association, David Rabin, believes the law is a harbinger of the future. He said,

"This ban is the first step in the death of nightlife entrepreneurship . . . [and] . . . Why don't we just change our name to Cleveland and call it a day?"

It remains to be seen how the controversy will play out, but one thing is clear. The coercive anti-smoking utopians do not care how many businesses fail nor how many people lose their jobs.

One other comment I have concerns the gratuitous smear of Cleveland by Mr. Rabin. Not one person in Cleveland voted for Hillary Clinton nor Chuck "Repeal the 2nd Amendment" Schumer.

Thanks to Boots and Sabers.