Smoke Free NJ

[Rosie]

Smoke Free NJ

On Monday, January 9th, the NJ Assembly will vote on an important piece of legislation to make workplaces and public places smoke-free, including restaurants and bars. The only workplace exemption is casino floors.

Interested supporters should call:

NJ Assembly Speaker Albio Sires (201)854-0900

NJ Assembly Majority Leader Joseph Roberts

(856)742-7600

Supporters of the ban can also go to:

www.smokefree.net/nj

Any message they write will be forwarded to their legislator.

If you want a smoke free environment in NJ restaurants then let your opinion count.

[menton1]

The ban will happen. The legislature has been gearing up for this for 2 years.

This type of ban is in effect in several states, New York City, over 200 municipalities, not to mention the entire countries of Ireland and Italy.

However, let us be prepared for the usual smokers' diatribes about freedom of speech, the bars saying that they will not be able to exist, and all the other tired arguments that were used in all the other places before this had become law. And the bars continue to thrive (Just look at New York City) and business is still good, and most of us can all breathe much more easily inside.

I can hear the bars and smokers complaining already!!

[Rachel Perlow]

We went to Kinchley's the other night and would have been willing to eat at the bar were it not for the chimney sitting next to Jason. This can't go into effect soon enough, IMO. It's about time!

[tommy]

  And the bars continue to thrive (Just look at New York City) and business is still good,

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and you'll certainly provide a source of reliable statistics, summarizing pre-ban profits and post-ban profits, rather than just saying "look at NYC".

[Anonymouze]

I have a trio from hell I call it... I have CHF, Severe/Acute Asthma and Severe Anemia so it's hard enough to get one oxygen cell to my bluish lungs. This can't come too soon for me, that is the only reason we don't go to some places more often - the level of smoke is sometimes bad enough that my tongue and lips tingle and I feel dizzy! PLUS I am stupid enough to have been a smoker from age 15-18 3 packs a day (chain smoking) kind of glad I stopped when I got back from the middle east, so us "ex-smokers" I hear are the worst critics.

I vote AYE for the cessation of smoky, haze filled restaurants and places.

[Taboni]

There is no way this bill should be passed in its current form since it doesn't cover casinos. The whole premise of the smoking ban is workers health rights so I guess casino workers don't matter as much as those in the restaurant/bar industry.

I am an ex 2 pack a day (15 years) smoker and I think it should be up to the individual businesses.

Edited January 6, 2006 by Taboni (log)

[rozrapp]

There is no way this bill should be passed in its current form since it doesn't cover casinos. The whole premise of the smoking ban is workers health rights so I guess casino workers don't matter as much as those in the restaurant/bar industry.

I am an ex 2 pack a day (15 years) smoker and I think it should be up to the individual businesses.

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While I agree with you that the bill should include casinos, that was an issue that scuttled the bill last time around. This bill has the best chance in many years of passing, and we have to start somewhere. The first non-smoking bill in NYC had all sorts of exceptions, some rather twisted. And a lot of those same workers' rights issues were debated. Eventually, a better, more far-reaching bill was passed. I prefer to think of this as a first -- very welcome -- step. We need to get the Assembly to pass it and then continue to fight on.

[Taboni]

I think it should be up to the individual business owners really. If there really is that much of a public outcry for this to happen, then let people vote with their wallets and

entirely smoke free bars etc will be booming businesses. Somehow I don't think this will be the case.

I don't understand why these sorts of issues aren't decided by referendum. Then you would get the truest desires of the public rather than those lobbyists who line the pockets of the political parties in NJ.

[Daniel]

Smoke Free NJ

On Monday, January 9th, the NJ Assembly will vote on an important piece of legislation to make workplaces and public places smoke-free, including restaurants and bars. The only workplace exemption is casino floors.

Interested supporters should call:

NJ Assembly Speaker Albio Sires (201)854-0900

NJ Assembly Majority Leader Joseph Roberts

                                                (856)742-7600

Supporters of the ban can also go to:

    www.smokefree.net/nj

Any message they write will be forwarded to their legislator.

If you want a smoke free environment in NJ restaurants then let your opinion count.

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Any website for supporters of business owner rights? Why dont Restaraunts have the same crooked lobbists that Atlantic City obviously has.. How could the casinos sneak by on this "important piece of legislation"

[hitmanoo]

Any website for supporters of business owner rights?  Why dont Restaraunts have the same crooked lobbists that Atlantic City obviously has.. How could the casinos sneak by on this "important piece of legislation"

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While I don't have the energy to get involved in this debate again, I am amazed by how much money swings the vote instead of public interest. The crazy thing about it is that gambling in itself is addictive like cigarettes. Will a smoking ban really ruin casino business? I guess the state in its fragile economic state cannot afford to find out...

[JohnnyH]

I think it should be up to the individual business owners really. If there really is that much of a public outcry for this to happen, then let people vote with their wallets and

entirely smoke free bars etc will be booming businesses. Somehow I don't think this will be the case.

I don't understand why these sorts of issues aren't decided by referendum. Then you would get the truest desires of the public rather than those lobbyists who line the pockets of the political parties in NJ.

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Couldn't agree more.

[jwjojo]

Because this is a public health issue, and bar/restaurant owners are more concerned about money than health. Therefore the legislators must step in. I have rarely seen a person smoking a cigarette and eating their dinner at the same time.

[Daniel]

Its your choice to go into a restaurant that you know has smoking...

[tommy]

Its your choice to go into a restaurant that you know has smoking...

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don't forget the workers.

[Jason Perlow]

There are a number of restaurants we can't go to currently because Rachel is especially sensitive to cigarrete smoke.

My personal opinion is that ideally it should be up to the establishment to enforce smoking policy, and workers should have a choice of whether or not they want to be in a smoke-free workplace. Patrons should be able to vote with their dollars if they want to patronize the restaurant or not.

That being said, I personally will look forward to being able to go into a restaurant bar and not be hit with cigarrete smoke.

[menton1]

and you'll certainly provide a source of reliable statistics, summarizing pre-ban profits and post-ban profits, rather than just saying "look at NYC".

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I'll defer to the above poster that mentions that statistics can be skewed to the benefit of both sides of an argument; however, NYC liquor license applications are up, and I found a couple of little amusing blurbs here:

http://www.postcrescent.com/apps/pbcs.dll/...50506/0/APCnews

http://events.nytimes.com/2005/12/14/dinin...6e4de14&ei=5070

[tommy]

no other type of worker has to decide whether or not to take a job based on the air quality of the job site (when it's not directly related to the nature of the work). i don't see why bar employees should be any different.

Edited January 6, 2006 by tommy (log)

[Daniel]

Its your choice to go into a restaurant that you know has smoking...

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don't forget the workers.

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Its your choice to work in a place that has smoking.. And if State would try using this weak arguement how could that State possibly not stand up for those helpless casino workers..

[Daniel]

There are a number of restaurants we can't go to currently because Rachel is especially sensitive to cigarrete smoke.

My personal opinion is that ideally it should be up to the establishment to enforce smoking policy, and workers should have a choice of whether or not they want to be in a smoke-free workplace. Patrons should be able to vote with their dollars if they want to patronize the restaurant or not.

That being said, I personally will look forward to being able to go into a restaurant bar and not be hit with cigarrete smoke.

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I quit smoking when I got sick about four months ago.. I dont like the smell of smoke so much anymore. So I personally might like it better to be in a smoke free environment, but I too am against the taking away of owner rights..

[menton1]

Its your choice to work in a place that has smoking

How haughty. What if it's the only job easily available to you, and you have to feed your family? Is unemployment or welfare the other "choice"? What makes you think jobs are so easy to come by?

[Daniel]

How haughty? Actually, being an employer in New Jersey I am pretty aware of the work situation.. Particularly in Northern New Jersey.. I think to make this ridiculous scenario your reason to ban smoking is outrageous.. If you pick up your paper and look in the back you will see many jobs outside of the restaurant industry..

Edited January 6, 2006 by Daniel (log)

[Daniel]

Yeh.. I think people miss the point when speaking about smoking Ban.. Your personal preference on whether you like to smoke has no bearing on the issue.. The real Issue is Owner Rights, whether the government can come into your place of business and once again tell you what to do.. The business owners freedoms have been slowly chipped away..

Edited January 6, 2006 by Daniel (log)

[Rachel Perlow]

Its your choice to go into a restaurant that you know has smoking...

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Exactly, so, like Jason mentioned above, there are several restaurants we DO NOT GO TO because of the smoking. These are places with separate no smoking sections, however the ventilation isn't that great, so I am still bothered by the smoke, or there is usually a wait in a smoky bar, so we don't go to these places often, if at all.

What I am saying, is that these establishments will benefit from the smoking ban by an increase in patrons like me, who don't go there because of the smokiness. While they aren't likely to lose many patrons because every restaurant/bar is affected by the smoking ban.

And, actually, most restaurant and especially bar owners, DON'T (currently) have the right to ban smoking in their establishments, not really. OK, they have the RIGHT to, but do they? No, because it is expected that a restaurant big enough to have a smoking section will have one, and all bars allow smoking, don't they? (read a little sarcasm here, please) So, therefore, this will free up owners to ban the smoking they don't want anyway (besides workers and patrons air quality, smoking increases the amount of cleaning a place needs, doesn't it?), while it is unlikely to negatively affect their business.

[tommy]

Yeh.. I think people miss the point when speaking about smoking Ban.. Your personal preference on whether you like to smoke has no bearing on the issue.. The real Issue is Owner Rights, whether the government can come into your place of business and once again tell you what to do.. The business owners freedoms have been slowly chipped away..

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if i'm not mistaken, in NYC at least, there's a law that bans smoking in, among other types of workplaces, office buildings. if someone could correct me if i'm wrong that would be great.

so, since bars have been the exception to the law for so long, i don't see the big deal. i don't like exceptions.

[Jason Perlow]

Guys, I would appreciate it if we all maintain a tone of civility here and be respectful of others opinions, while allowing each other to agree to disagree and not making ad hominem attacks on people ("whiners", etc). I've already removed posts that don't add any significant new thoughts to the discussion and are simply incindiary or have political content. If we can't manage to be respectful and civil, I'm going to be closing this topic.

Shall we try this again?