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Mar
11
Smoking ban campaign sites
March 11, 2008 |
April 8th is election day for the initiative petition to strengthen KCMO’s smoking ban. In January the City Council passed a half-assed ban designed to sabotage the citizens’ initiative, so now voters will have the final say. Question 3 would ban smoking in any indoor workplace or public space, including bars and restaurants. The only exception is that the ban won’t apply to KCMO casinos until suburban casinos are covered by a similar law.
www.breathe-easykc.com is the web site for the smokig ban campaign.
Bar owners have formed the KC Business Rights Coalition in order to oppose the smoking ban. That group is largely run by Ed Nelson of KC Hopps, Kim Moffitt of Twin City Tavern, and Bill Nigro of the Beaumont Club. Their web site is www.kcrights.com.
Comments
50 Comments so far
Lets get this passed. No more smoking!!!
Hooray for Tyranny of the Majority!
(Frank, what’s wrong with all of thee places that already ban smoking on their own?)
C’mon ScooterJ…we wouldn’t want anyone to have to take any personal responsibility for where they spend their time and money.
Fuck your lungs. I’ll travel to bars outside KC that let me smoke. Get used to it. Oh, wait. You already are.
As an independent bar owner let me tell you that the claims od no lost business are LIES! The national average is 30-35% lost sales and was experienced in Illinois across the state. The anti-smoking activists do not care what lies they tell you to get the legislation passed. The anti’s take advantage of their past works to establish trust (with organizations such as the ACA, ALA, & AHA) and in todays day and age are betraying everyone with their “the ends justifies the means” agenda. They do not care that they lie. They do not care that the smoking bans do in fact put some businesses out of business. Missouri we are entering a severe recession. I sincerely suggest to you that this is no time to chance a loss of tax revenues and closed store fronts. It will happen. AND once you do a little research you will find that the Robert Woods Johnson Foundation (Johnson & Johnson pharmaceuticals) is also anti-alcohol. SO if a few independent mom and pop businesses go bankrupt, they don’t care!
I don’t understand what would be the problem with allowing business owners to make the call and post a sign if they allow smoking or not. Then if the non-smokers didn’t want to be there they could go to non-smoking places.
But as long as I have been around this has been a right and if they get it taken away what other rights are we going to have to give up.
I agree with you Frank, This will help with insurance cost in the long run.
Why do people have such a problem avoiding places that they don’t like. It doesn’t make any sense. I wonder if these proban facist realize that they helping to line the pockets of big pharma.
There are over 20 states with complete smoking bans,and for the most part its working.I am from California and it does work there,the west coast thinks were a bunch of unhealth red necks.The things I read on here,maybe we are.Revenue over our heath-no way!!
The ban is gonna pass. Suck it, smokers.
I am a frequent visitor to denver, and the bars there are just as busy now as they were before the smoking ban…and you don’t come home smelling like an ash-tray.
KC needs this. It’s going to happen eventually. It’s unfortunate that in KC there are too many nonsmokers willing to “put up with it” by giving their money to smoke-friendly bars. Most of my friends stand firm. We can’t stand the smoke, and won’t subject ourselves to it. KC bars stand to get a LOT more business from people like us when this ban passes. And if your smokers can still light up outside, it’s not hurting anybody.
What about the hookah bar? would that shut down or just be designated upstairs?
Im not a smoker at all but I also don’t care if they ban smoking or not. I don’t the smoking when I’m eating but I believe if you don’t like the smoke, then DON’T go into a smoking bar…dumass
BAN SMOKING IN CASINOS!!!!!!!!!!!Let em go outside and suck on their cancer sticks!!!!!
I will be voting april 8th to ban smoking!!!!!! I can’t wait til casinos and stadiums are included! its just going to take more of us stepping up and doing something about it.
I am wondering why we seek to take someone elses rigts away when there is a solution that would make both sides Happy. The city regulates alot of things why can’t they just have businesses have seaperate ventilation and totally seperate areas. I just wanted to say that I was working at a resteraunt where I work is in Gladstone and our resteraunt in Kansas city Missouri a group of 20 left to come to our resteraunt because we still allowed smoking before 9:00 pm. Kansas city Missouri and Appelbees lost over $400 so I have proof it is going to affect businesses it’s just as easey to go 10 minutes to the next city and I am not a smoker never smoked a day in my life. I am a person for FREEDOM for those of you voted for the smokeing ban next time it will be something that you value.
It has always amazed me that for one to have a right then someone else must be denied theirs. Lack of tolerance of others is obvious to me. We all pay taxes. To bad the only ones who could vote on this issue was only those who live in Kansas City. How is that an accurate vote of the people it affects? To many rights of an American are being taking away, democracy is slowly slipping away. This vote is like the super delegates who are chosen for me not by me, again not a true reflection of everyone it effects. This vote wasn’t won by a landslide either.
There may be a bright side once the smoking is controlled then maybe we will address the real problems with our air. Has anyone ever noticed the plant close to NKCH, the smoke coming out of there is so very black. NKCH even bans smoking outside now we are owning the air outdoors. Look at what comes from our vehicles? But all the breathing problems are placed on smoking, that is ridiculous. When will we attack alcohol, why isn’t there a surgeon generals warning on their bottles? How many people know that every ounce of alcohol you consume kills 10,000 brain cells that you DO NOT reproduce? For such health conscious people why are you in the bars drinking? With all the underage drinking maybe parents shouldn’t be allowed to have alcohol in their homes. Oh but prohibition didn’t work. Never know maybe it will be revisited. This is a joke and more of a control issue, about your comfort and the after me I might think of you attitude. Ever go to a restaurant to enjoy a relaxing meal and have to put up with someone’s child or children screaming at the top of their lungs? Maybe there should be a ban on children in restaurants after 9 p.m. Ever pass by a women or man who has taken a bath in their perfume or cologne? That is just as annoying sometimes makes you gag.
So it passed. Non-smokers, be prepared for your pay-back. I, as well as many others, intend to vote yes to every tax increase that comes our way. Wouldn’t leave you guys out of the discomfort zone.
And by the way, nonsmokers - why don’t you quit polluting our air with your cars?
Hypocrites.
I just moved to KC from New York City. I lived in New York back when the smoking ban was passed. Business owners, just like in KC, feared that they would lose business, however they were wrong. Most smokers (and I was one of them back then), won’t mind going outside to smoke, even when it is cold. It’s worth it to not smell like an ashtray when you get home. Now that I am not a smoker anymore, I won’t go to places that allow smoking for more than a half hour or so. Those places make me gag, they are disgusting. My friends are the same. I used stay out until closing two or three nights a week in NYC. Here, I go out maybe twice a month, all because of the smoke. It sucks. Business owners don’t realize that they will actually gain some business when the new law goes into effect. So, smokers, sorry but DEAL! My right to clean lungs trumps your right to polute yours and others in public. Asking you to step outside is not taking away your rights. It’s just requiring you to be considerate of others. I can’t wait until June 7th!
So, nobody sees this as a constitutional issue filled with hypocritical left wing mentality? It is legal to grow, harvest, manufacture and sell tobacco in the United States. However, it is illegal to smoke in most places. You can’t have it both ways. There are other solutions that don’t rip my rights away from me. Yes you have a right to clean air and I have a right to have a cigar. Especially if it is in a cigar lounge. If you enter a cigar lounge, what would you expect? Get real and be an American that protects the rights of everyone
I will enjoy going to bars and restraunts without gagging on smoke,thank you K.C.I live in Blue Springs and they passed a half ass smoking ban thats a joke,we call Blue Springs the ash tray of eastern jackson county.Smoke all you want,just step outside such as I do to releve gas.
This still amazes me. I moved here from Southern California in 2005 where Cali has been Non-Smoking for many years. I have also been around the world to France, Italy, and most recently Ireland. ALL NON-SMOKING countries. What is everyone afraid of? If you have ever considered quitting smoking, well, here is your chance. Embrace this historic time. And all of these law suits, what a joke, THE VOTERS won. So sue them. We all make choices. You could move to backwards STL which still allows smoking. Face it, eventually the entire state of MO will someday be Non-smoking! Now if only the city would address the horrible condition of our streets……….
people that say this will hurt small businesses and people that have anything negative to say about the smoking ban are ignorant. just so you know…ignorant means lack of knowledge. people are just not educated enough on the situation. people want to go on and on about freedom. well guess what? the government has several rules and guidelines in place for bar and restaurant owners. I’m sure they would like to serve alcohol past 3am if it would make the bar more money, but rules say you can’t. there are several you have to follow. what about the people that don’t go out, or the people that put their health at risk because they want to go to a certain place. what about their rights? of course people will go to another town close by that allows smoking if they can, but eventually the whole metro area will be included. that part takes time! you can’t smoke in shawnee mission or overland park. kansas city is next and then the casions eventually. the period of time that people will travel to other areas won’t last long. people aren’t going to stay home just because they can’t smoke either. easy solution is to just create a seperate area outdoors that is sheltered from weather, and still warm or cool. I am all about being fair. be smart and find a solution to new guidelines. create an environment for both smokers and nonsmokers! if you have a solution for both kinds of people you won’t have to worry about customers not being satisfied, customers going to other areas, or losing business at all!
BOTTOM LINE….I HAVE BEEN A BARTENDER FOR OVER 14 YEARS NOW AND THE BAN JUST WENT INTO EFFECT THE OTHER DAY. THIS BAN IS GONNA KILL MY MONEY AND OTHERS LIKE ME…..THE WEEK BEFORE I MADE A TOTAL OF 236.25 BARTENDING ON SAT NIGHT.,,,SMOKIN WAS ALLOWED……LAST NIGHT I MADE 26.00!!! SMOKING WAS NOT ALLOWED……GET THE POINT!! HERE: LET IT BE THE OWNERS CHOICE TO HAVE A SMOKING OR NON SMOKING ESTABLISHMENT SO PEOPLE DONT LOSE THEIR LIVELIHOOD AND HAVE TO FIND ANOTHER JOB LIKE I AM AFTER ALL THESE YEARS….PEOPLE A F’IN MORONS…..IF YOU DONT WANT TO BE AROUND SMOKE….THEN JUST DONT GO!!! WE ARE ALL ADULTS AND LIQUOR AND CIGS GO HAND AND HAND!!!
THERE NOW PUFF ON THAT YOU SMOKING BAN SHMUCKS!! THANKS FOR TAKING MONEY OUT OF MY POCKET ONE MORE TIME!!
I TOO AM A BARTENDER FOR 18 YRS AND SUPPORT MY DAUGHTER IN COLLEGE AS WELL AS MY OWN EXPENSES.
THE NON-SMOKING BAN IS A BUNCH OF HORSE-S..T!!!
LIKE $4.00 A GALLON FOR GAS AND HIGHER FOOD PRICES AREN’T CRIPPLING ENOUGH??
THIS STUPID CRAP IS GOING TO PUT SOOOOO MANY PEOPLE OUT OF BUSINESS AND OUT OF JOBS!!!!
LET ME REPEAT MYSELF!!!! BUSINESSES WILL CLOSE AND PEOPLE WILL LOSE EVERY THING THEY HAVE WORKED THEIR BUTTS OFF TO ACQUIRE.
FOR WHAT???
BARS SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO HAVE A PRIVATE LICENSE THAT STATES CUSTOMERS CAN SMOKE!!
IF YOU OPPOSE SMOKING, GUESS WHAT…..GO TO A DIFFERENT BAR!!!!
21 YEARS IS OLD ENOUGH TO BUY CIGARETTES AND ALCOHOL AND TO GO DIE FOR YOUR COUNTRY!!
DO NOT STRIP ME OF MY PERSONAL CHOICES, AND I WON’T YOURS!!
HAS THIS COUNTRY NOT LOST ENOUGH OF OUR CIVIL LIBERTIES THESE PAST 7 YEARS OF BUSH??
ARE WE ,AS A NATION, EVER GOING TO LEARN A DAMN THING….AND ARE WE EVER GOING TO HAVE THE COURAGE TO SAY “I AM MAD AS HELL, AND I AM NOT GOING TO TAKE IT ANYMORE”!!
WAKE THE HELL UP AMERICA!!!
ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!!
This is a note to all the bartenders out there. Have you once EVER visited a non smoking country,city, or bar? If you dare ever leave KC and realize how much of the US is already non-smoking, then you might realize that life will go on. Sure, it will hurt for the time being, but once everyone gets used to having clean lungs, bars will once again fill up. I have lived all over this country and have visited many non smoking countries. Just got back from IRELAND, and the whole country is non-smoking. EVERY pub I went to was packed full of drinkers, and they had zero problem with stepping outside to smoke. Embrace this historic time. It will get better!
you know I have been to the power and light district the past 2 weekends. the area and their bartenders are not hurting one bit. you are not allowed to smoke in any bar or restaurant down there…yet every weekend there are lines out the door to get in. I highly doubt the smoking ban is the whole reason you’re hurting that much if you are a bartender else where!
I am a non-smoker and have to say leave it to the bar owners… unless of course you get ALL-OR-NONE in the metro area… KC, Gladstone, NKC, Overland Park, Shawnee, Lenexa… Casinos and more… if there is NO PLACE to smoke for a long distance… there will be minimal effect on revenue. However, what’s next alcohol?
Most gay people smoke. 80% of our customers do. When smokers stop smoking, I hope the Taxes (for federal bldgs,etc ), that they were paying on their cigarettes is passed down to everyone in the community.
God bless the Johnson Cty patrons at the power and light district !!
One of my best friends barbacks there.
Sorry, but my customers are average Joe’s ….that can’t afford $400 for Crystal
champagne !!!
guess what? I don’t live in johnson county and I also went to missie b’s which is a gay bar this past weekend. you’re right about a lot of gay people smoking but…what do ya know? it was packed both inside and on the patio area. didn’t seem to hurt them or their bartenders
FINALLY! I can go to any bar I choose without having someone else decide that I have to breathe nicotine! KC has long been behind the curve in this respect, I’m glad we’re finally joining the rest of modern society in recognizing that the health benefits of all are an important concern.
Bar owners: There are bar owners just like you in cities & states across this country who have survived smoking bans. If people stop visiting your bar because they can’t bear to walk 10 feet to light up outside, maybe you need to re-think what reasons people visit your establishment in the first place.
Thanks to all of the GREAT MINDS that put in their peace about that you dont think that the ban is hurting anyone! Ok…let me explain a little more in detail to all of you dumb asses that didnt get it the first time. First off the power and light district is busy for the simple fact THAT IT IS BRAND NEW AND WHENEVER A NEW BAR OPENS IT REALLY DOESNT MATTER WHAT GOES ON THERE….IT WILL BE PACKED REGARDLESS. I have been involved in many new openings and know from experience. Second…the main problem I have is not even the fact that smoking is banned….the DUMB ASS THING THAT THE CITY DID WAS NOT BANNING IT THROUGHOUT THE METRO AREA ALL AT THE SAME TIME!! This you can’t smoke here but you can a half mile up the road is total bullshit and totally unfair and YES ALOT OF PEOPLE THAT GO INTO BARS SMOKE…BOUT 75-85% are my figures and that comes from almost 15 years of doin this job so I think I am fairly qualified to put in my 2 cents. So for now people that smoke are following the path to wherever they can smoke and not going to their regular hangouts where they cant anymore! I wonder if you people that voted for non smoking ever thought that maybe by voting in the ban that you would be hurting people livelihoods and jobs. You know there are alot of people that will lose their livelihoods because of this shit…alot of BS for nothing. Unless you bartend for a living in the area that the ban is affecting then you cant see the negative effects first hand. I think that BARS should be smoking and rest/bars should be non smoking then….there NOW SMOKERS HAVE THEIRS AND NON SMOKERS HAVE THEIRS ALSO!!!
Oh ya almost forgot to clrify something….Someone said that other bar with patios are doing fine…..but I just so happen to work in a bar that doesnt have an outside patio and wont! IF THIS DUMBASS CITY WAS GONNA BAN SMOKING THE ONLY WAY IS TO BAN IT IN THE ENTIRE METRO AREA AND WITHIN A 30 MILE RADIUS AROUND THE CITY THEN AND IN OUTLINING CITIES ALSO….THEN EVERYONE IS ON A LEVEL PLAYING FIELD. ONE OF THE MAIN REASONS THAT OTHER STATES HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL WITH IT IS BECAUSE THEY BANNED IT JUST THIS WAY AND NOT A LITTLE HERE AND A LITTLE THERE. WHATS THE BIG DAMN DEAL ANYWAY…IF YOU DONT LIKE SMOKE…DONT GO WHERE PEOPLE ARE SMOKING!! ITS THE SAME THING AS TITTY BARS..IF YOU DONT WANNA SEE IT….DONT GO!!
This site is not a place to insult anyone. If you can’t leave a comment without being mature then don’t leave one. The people who are against the smoking ban don’t seem to have all the facts! One of the first cities to take on the smoking ban was Shawnee Mission and Overland Park. If you knew all your facts you would know that the plan is to make the whole metro area smoke free. Unfortunately we are unable to do that all at the same exact time. Each city has different amounts of time it takes them to get something done for various reasons. You are also dealing with 2 different states so it is a process. The reason why it isn’t banned in casinos was because not all would be covered immediately. It was stated the casinos would take on the ban once all the cities were included. North Kansas City also just passed the ban and I believe Lee’s Summit is also non smoking. So the entire metro area is in the process of having the ban. I myself am not going to stay home from the bar just because of the smoke. I have friends that smoke and attend bars. I want to enjoy the bar life and spend time with my friends. I shouldn’t have to deal with breathing it or smelling like an ashtray when I come home. There is nothing wrong with a bar creating a separate area for smokers. If you don’t have one then create one. I guess some bars will have to adapt to a changing society. Even my smoker friends think it is too much and don’t like it! Anyone can walk a few feet to smoke in a designated area or outside. That would make everyone happy. Not only would you then just get nonsmoker business but you would still have the smoker business. People aren’t going to sacrifice their time out at a bar and stay home because they have to smoke in a different area!
I forgot about your Power and Light District comment. You said people are going there because it is new. Well I have many friends and have seen many people there weekend after weekend. I see pretty much the same smokers outside as well. So you are saying the smokers are willing to walk a few feet to smoke right outside a door at Power and Light and have such a great time still that they come back every weekend, but they can’t do that at your bar? And by the way, some of the bars don’t have patios either. They setup portable railings to enclose a small area just outside a door. How’s that for being smart and adapting? Maybe you should get a job there. Sounds like now there is a smoking ban it is just competition on which bar is the best! And average joes can go there too. I am not rich by any means and bought $3 drinks. You have a lot to learn and think about
A SMALL RAILING…..WE HAD ABOUT 100 PEOPLE OUTSIDE OUR PLACE!! WHAT ABOUT RAIN, SLEET AND SNOW? PORTABLE RAILINGS AREN’T GOING TO CUT IT WHEN IT RAINS, SLEET, SNOW AND ICE!!
NUMBER ONE, DON’T TELL ME THAT IT IS THE BARTENDERS FAULT OR THE BAROWNERS,OKAY!!!
YOU DON’T KNOW ME AND YOU HAVE NO RIGHT TO COMMENT ON MY TALENT!!! I AM A PRO AND CAN DO THIS JOB IN MY SLEEP. WHEN I WAS CHECKING ON THE SITUATION OUTSIDE SATURDAY NIGHT, CUSTOMERS WERE COMING OUTSIDE TO ASK ME TO MAKE THEM A DRINK. PEOPLE KNOW WHO ROCKS AND WHO IS VERY MEDIOCUR.IS THERE A COMPETITION AT YOUR JOB !! SHOULD I START SLAMMING WHAT YOU DO AND YOUR COMPANY !!!
YOU DO NO HAVE A CLUE ABOUT THE BAR BUSINESS BESIDES BUYING A FEW DRINKS…… SO DO NOT ACT LIKE YOU CAN STEP IN AND KNOW WHAT THE F..K IS GOING ON !!!
IT JUST MAKES YOU LOOK LIKE AN IGNORANT MORON WITH A BOX OF ROCKS FOR BRAINS,DUDE !!
Maybe you should read what I wrote again. I never slammed anyone so I don’t know why you are so defensive. I never said anything personal about you. Nothing was said about your talent and I actually own a bar in KC. If there are changes that occur aka a smoking ban, then each bar has to adapt to fit those changes. If you choose not to and your business suffers then yes it is the bar owners fault. A bar onwer just needs to figure out a solution for smokers. That’s a bar owners job if they want to keep making money. When you don’t have all the facts and you can’t act with maturity on a website than you have only make yourself look bad by the way! Your argument makes no sense!
Brad..let me start off saying DON’T EVER TELL ME “I HAVE ALOT TO LEARN” I KNOW THIS BUSINESS LIKE THE BACK OF MY HAND AND HAVE BEEN NOMINATED TO KANSAS CITYS BEST BARTENDER MORE THAN ONCE! TRICKLE…I MUST SAY…I ENJOY YOUR BLOGGING SIR AND I AS WELL FEEL THE SAME. SOME OF US ARE THE BEST AT WHAT WE DO BUT MOST OF THE TIME YOU CAN GO TO A BAR AND THE BARTENDERS ARENT EVEN AVERAGE….I TAKED PEOPLE LIKE TRICKLE AND I TO KNOW THE DIFFERENCE AND BRAD IF YOU DID OWN A BAR WHICH I DO NOT BELIEVE YOU ACTUALLY DO…WHY…BECAUSE THERE IS NO F’ING BAR OWNER IN THE ENTIRE KANSAS CITY AREA THAT WOULD RATHER BE NON SMOKING RATHER THAN CHOICE!!! ALSO FOR YOUR INFO BRAD….IF YOU OWN A BAR…THEN YOU SHOULD KNOW THAT THE LAW STATES THAT UNLESS YOU DO HAVE AN ALREADY BUILT PATIO THAT CUSTOMERS ARE SUPPOSED TO STAY 20 FEET FROM THE BUILDING WHEN THEY STEP OUTSIDE TO SMOKE. OK…NOW FOR THE POWER AND LIGHT DISTRICT..ABSOLUTELY ONE OF THE MAIN REASONS WHY POWER AND LIGHT IS KICKING SO MUCH ASS IS BECAUSE IT IS NICE, NEW AND MORE THAN LIKELY GONNA BE YOUR NEW SO CALLED “WESTPORT”. KANSAS CITY IS ONE OF THE MOST TRANSIENT TOWNS WHEN IT COMES TO BARS AND WHEN SOMETHING NEW OPENS…PEOPLE ARE GONNA CHECK IT OUT AND MOST OF THE TIME THEY WILL LEAVE THEIR “REGULAR HANGOUTS” TO DO IT UNTIL THEY GO THERE AND FIND ITS NOTHING SPECIAL…JUST NEW…THEN THEY COME BACK TO THEIR REGULAR HANGOUTS AGAIN UNTIL SOMETHING ELSE OPENS NEW. EVERY BAR OWNER I KNOW PERSONALLY…AND I KNOW MANY OF THEM….WHICH I HAVE SPOKEN WITH LATELY ARE ABSOLUTELY AGAINST A SMOKING BAN. AS FAR AS FIGURING OUT A SOLUTION FOR SMOKERS….WELL LETS HEAR THE SOLUTION FROM THE “BAR OWNERS MOUTH”. I GOT A GREAT SOLUTION FOR YA….EITHER KILL THE STUPID ASS SMOKING BAN OR DO THIS….THE CASINO’S CUSTOMERS CAN SMOKE ON THE “GAMING FLOOR” RIGHT? WHY?? BECAUSE THEY HAVE GAMES OF CHANCE THE HEALTH DEPT SAYS….OK IF THAT IS THE CASE THEN LETS DO THIS….LETS ADD “KENO” TO EVERY BAR THAT WANTS SMOKING AND THEN EVERY AREA THAT KENO IS IN WILL BE CONSIDERED A “GAMING AREA”. THIS DOES 2 THINGS….IT GETS SMOKING BACK FOR THE BARS AND MISSOURI NOW MAKES A TON OF MONEY OFF OF THE KENO MACHINES WHERE BEFORE THE BAN…THEY DIDNT!! THERE CASE AND POINT SOLVED. BRAD IF YOU DID OWN A BAR YOU WOULD BE ON THE BARTENDERS SIDE….IF YOU WANNA TALK ABOUT THE BAN GREAT LETS DO IT…BUT DONT EVER CHALLENGE MY TALENT OR MY KNOWLEDGE!! YOU DO NOT KNOW ME NOR DO YOU HAVE A CLUE WHAT THINGS MY LIFE HAS CONSISTED OF. ALSO IF YOU READ MY POSTS I DID STATE THAT SOME PLACES DO NOT HAVE PATIOS SO BEFORE YOU TRY AND BESTOW YOUR KNOWLEDGE UPON BARTENDERS…PLEASE LEARN WTF YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT BEFORE YOU SPEAK!!
TRICKLE DOWN..CHEERS TO MY FELLOW DRINK SLINGER!!
It is really sad to see when you enter a bar, not only in Westport, but also in the Plaza, the 39th Street District, Martini Hill and other areas that the bars are now empty. They used to be lively places; a place to meet friends and have a few cold beers or cocktails, but now they are hollow shells with only a couple of die hard non-smokers! So, now they have the places to themselves…but that does not comfort the people that work in these places since they have lost a great deal of their income, as have the owners. Some folks have said that they can easily build an outdoor patio, but sadly that is not the truth. The City of Kansas City really screwed up since they didn’t bother to update their ordinances with regards to who is permited to have an outdoor cafe license. Currently, only those places that serve food or have at least 51% of their sales in food are allowed a license. That leaves out the neighborhood bars that only serve liquor/beer. Once again, the Kansas City Council and the non-smoking citizens of this shit-hole of a city have proved that they are always a day late and a dollar short. Much like the parking situation downtown on the east side! Perhaps we should also ban junk food including all of the soda pop, corn dogs, chips and other fat laddened food that is served at restaurants and bars that received money via the TIFs and Tax Abatement projects - which amounts to tax payer dollar support (welfare). As a citizen I don’t feel like paying more in health care costs for others due to obesity - which is currently more than from smoking!!! So you non-smoking citizens who are no better than Hitler’s nazi party affiliates how does it feel to take away the rights of a class of citizens! I’m sure you feel much better now that you control all and leave nothing for others!!! Who will be next on your list? Mein Kamph!
I love the smoking ban, Bar owners get over it. Your just a bunch of heathons anyway
JIM,
It must take on to know one !!!
OF COURSE YOU DON’T KNOW ONE, OTHERWISE YOU WOULDN’T OF LEFT SUCH AN IDIOTIC COMMENT. NOW, GO CRAWL BACK UNDER YOUR ROCK, OKAY !!
No one gets it about the ban. Just as you have a right to clean air, smokers have the right to smoke. It’s about our constitution and the right to freedom. Think past yourselves and look at the big picture of more and more government control. since when do we prohibit the rights to earn a living.
I would like to ad that I have been a bartender in this city for over 14 years. I remember back in the good days when there were only a few places to go and people were actually going out to have fun instead of see how much they couls save. Anyways, within the next month I will me moving out of state….forced to do so because of this stupid smoking ban. My bars I work at which used to be very busy are now ghosttowns!! I hop;e you non smokers are happy….hey…now there is one thing LESS to do in this BS town. Thanks for all your support over the years KC..I wont forget it!!
Again, as a non smoker, I am against the smoking ban, However, I did go to the bar in Kansas City last weekend, and I wore my clothes just out of principle the next day because they did not smell like smoke… However, this does take a big hit on the bar owners of the bars I like to go to, which are in jeopardy of shutting down. I also asked when I went into a bar at 9 PM at night and there were three other people in there, and I asked the bar tender “Where are all the non-smoking fockers that supported the ban now?” If the majority of the non smokers made a statement and went to the bar and kept the revenue going, on something they voted on. I would not have a big issue.
ERIC…SPOKEN LIKE SOMEONE THAT HAS A CLUE…NICE!! Ok one and F’in for all….here is the main problem I am having and let me make it CRYSTAL CLEAR to all of you NON SMOKING VOTERS!! The current problem other than the obvious taking away one more personal choice and taking us one more step closer to communism….here is the prob..YOU CANNOT let one area or place smoke and 2 miles down the road….not let that place smoke. THEY REALLY F’D UP WHEN THEY DIDNT MAKE THE ENTIRE metro area non smoking all at once. People that smoke are going to establishments in the small cities like gladstone and NKC and Riverside because you can STILL SMOKE THERE and not visiting bars in NON SMOKING areas anymore. IT HAS TO BE THE SAME LEVEL PLAYING FIELD FOR EVERYONE NAD ITS NOT…THIS IS THE PROBLEM!! THAT IS WHAT IT ALL BOILS DOWN TOO!! As for you dumbasses that say..”The smoking ban isnt going to effect bars”…I invite you to go on a little trip with me through the bars in KC that you can still smoke and and the ones you cant and then you tell me that they aren’t affected!! Would you rather people smoke or people lose their jobs and livelihoods because of the un-level playing field thats called a smoking ban??
What proof is there that the smoking ban is causing loss of business? The economy and price of gas and everything else is more likely the culprit.
This was a bad time in our economic situation to enact a smoking ban, but it sure does separate the wheat from the chaff.
You can thank our current dictator for the economy. Business is slow everywhere. There are places you’ll see packed, but they’re not packed every night. Bar and restaurants are seeing inconsistent business right now, and I doubt smoking has that huge an impact on it. I think it’s the least of the worries business owners have right now. Anyone who owns a business (like me) is feeling a huge pinch.
No one gets it about the ban. Just as you have a right to pollute your lungs, non-smokers have the right to clean air. It’s about our constitution and the right to freedom. Think past yourselves and look at the big picture of more and more healthy environments. Since when do we prohibit the rights to live smoke-free?
I’ve been a bartender in this town for nearly 30 years. I will continue to do my job in this city and will not move away because I work in a place that has vision and foresight. We have a patio, which we added two years ago in anticipation of a smoking ban. We have loyal customers who do not mind taking a smoke break and I don’t mind saving their seats.
It is rough right now, but I’ve talked to people who smoke and they say the smoking ban is not their reason for going out less. My regulars are all spending less money (even the nonsmokers) because they HAVE less money to spend.
We’ll get through this, just like we got through the squeeze after 9/11.
I’m glad the doomsayers will be either gone or proven wrong.
I love this town.
It’s good to know there are some smart people in this city! The smoking ban is the best! My 2 friends and I spent about 125.00 in one night that we wouldn’t have spent if it was a smoking bar
And you and your two friends were the only ones in the bar?
As it goes for the proof… Sales this week Sales last week… the economy has dwindled slowly… so yes there is an effect… but that does NOT happen over a one week period. If it does then this country is in more trouble than the average American thinks.
Get used to it?
Are you fekking kidding me (or just high)?
The slaves got ‘used to’ being told what to do.
You sheeple are killing me and holding your chest out while you do it.
What a great step backwards…