Patterson to ignore smoking ban

[Sarah]

I understand it that it applies to outdoor areas where food/drink is served. So there could be a little patio with chairs, etc for smokers, you just couldn't be served there.

[jt1]

Ha! This galaxy's greatest county doesn't have the money to enforce a smoking ban??? And he wants to sue the state for making a rule and not providing the funding to enforce? Does the state provide funding to enforce speed limits? Does.not.compute.


ETA: Oh yeah, it's called grandstanding.

Maybe he should also ask the MSP to quit patrolling in this communities. If OC can't afford this then I think there is an argument that MSP can't afford to have a presence in OC.

I really can't wait until the old jackass drives his drunk ass into a tree and dies.

[jt1]

I usually disagree with LBP 99% of the time, but I agree with him on this issue. Michigan's ban will not allow smoking on outdoor patios, or in hotel room. Since a hotel room is a rented dwelling, and I spend about 10 nights monthly in hotels for my job, they are telling me I cannot smoke in my home. If this goes through, I'll skip on the hotel and just drive the extra few hours back to Toledo where smoking is permitted in my home office. I am not aware of any other states that have taken it to this extreme. How about a separate well-ventilated room in establishments that allow smoking, or an exemption for family-owned businesses and private clubs?

If this were in the best interest of businesses, they would've enacted it on their own. I don't go to gay bars, country bars, or dance clubs, but they don't bother me at all. Let the market decide.

P.S. I'm typing this in a small sports bar in Grand Rapids while I enjoy a smoke. The bartender, the cook, as well as 8 out of 13 patron are currently enjoying a smoke with me.

We must use different types of hotels when we travel. IN the many, many nights I've been on the road hotels do not allow smooking in common areas and have very few, if any smoking rooms. To try to make it like smoking is allowed in all hotel rooms is one hell of a stretch.

[Diehard]

If you read my post in its entirety, you'll notice that I suggested ventilation as a solution. Heck, I'd be willing to go up to the bar and get my own drinks and bring them back to the smoking section. Maybe even allow smoking on outdoor patios like every other state with a ban does, and ban it indoors while exempting family businesses. Nobody ever wants to compromise, but maybe we can sit down and discuss some solutions instead of an outright ban.

This argument is soooo two years ago. It's over. Learn to step outside for a few minutes and get your smoke on. It won't kill you, just like it hasn't in the rest of the civilized world that did this already.
And it's not an "outright ban" - that would be to ban smoking, altogether, everywhere. This is a compromise. Smoke all you want, outside.

[artds]

Oh yeah? You mean, a real, honest, genuine concern for the health of THESE people?

Study: Foodservice workers smoke more than others
http://www.nrn.com/breakingNews.aspx?id=373686


I call "bullshit". The "protecting health" excuse is a ruse. If you want to protect the health of restaurant employees, use the money from the tobacco settlement to fund smoking cessation programs for restaurant workers.

Perhaps you need to re-read your own article. It found that a majority food service workers [[55%) DON'T smoke.

And even if the percentage of that group who weren't smokers were as low as 10%, the fact that the other 90% are smokers doesn't mean the legislature can't have a legitimate concern about the 10% who aren't smokers, so your argument fails in two ways.

[1KielsonDrive]

L. Brooks Patterson intends to turn a blind eye to the smoking ban, and says he will sue to state over the legislation.

http://detnews.com/article/20100415/...ce-smoking-ban

Typical f+*^*ng politician. Ignore or urge violation of laws you don't like. Of course, Patterson has been ignoring the drinking and driving laws for years. He's just another tea-bagger, who won't own up to it.

[cman710]

I do not think any other states have banned smoking on outdoor patios, so in that respect, Michigan's law is broader than most states' smoking bans. Many cities/counties have banned smoking on outdoor patios, though, such as Boston.

[Hypestyles]

Typical f+*^*ng politician. Ignore or urge violation of laws you don't like. Of course, Patterson has been ignoring the drinking and driving laws for years. He's just another tea-bagger, who won't own up to it.

heh-heh...

[Lowell]

The tide has come in and L Brooks just got caught standing out in the water all alone trying to order it to go back.

It will be no big deal. The onus will fall on the proprietors to obey the law and they are the ones who will enforce it. 75% of the population does not smoke. They will love the ban and demand it of business. Business will comply to that big majority. Customers who go out to eat or drink and find smoking need only go the owner and inform him that is is jeopardy of losing his right to operate his business.

In two months time the smoke will settle and this will all be forgotten.

[1KielsonDrive]

The tide has come in and L Brooks just got caught standing out in the water all alone trying to order it to go back.

It will be no big deal. The onus will fall on the proprietors to obey the law and they are the ones who will enforce it. 75% of the population does not smoke. They will love the ban and demand it of business. Business will comply to that big majority. Customers who go out to eat or drink and find smoking need only go the owner and inform him that is is jeopardy of losing his right to operate his business.

In two months time the smoke will settle and this will all be forgotten.

I lived through this in San Francisco on January 1, 1998. After all the crying and moaning was done - that's exactly what happened.

[wolverine]

Now maybe someone will protect the health of the fat fucks who eat out all the time.

Just one question--do the restaurant workers also have to be at least 15' from the door when they go outside to smoke?

Some places are already doing it. Chicago has a ban on most trans-fats. And some states down south have considered banning the obese from dining at fast food establishments....not that it will ever get passed.

As for the 15' foot 'rule', I see it on signs all over here in downtown Chicago. No way it is enforced around bars, but people are giving more space away from the door regardless. Many highrise apartment buildings such as mine require smokers to stand at the curb only because there is a doorman, making the lobby a "workplace," despite that both our doorman are smokers as well

If I was a habitual smoker, I suppose all these laws and regulations would be inconvenient and frustrating. But I've found most smokers to be respectful of non-smokers here.

[R8RBOB]

I lived through this in San Francisco on January 1, 1998. After all the crying and moaning was done - that's exactly what happened.

I arrived in California on October 22, 2000 and I remembered smoking cigarettes in Reno bars the night before. It dawned on my that once I crossed the state line into California I would not be allowed to smoke in any restaurant and no bars. Naturally, I'm thinking to myself how am I going to get used to smoking outdoors while I'm drinking a Heineken indoors. [[Some bars solved this dilemma with patios.)

Strangely, I got used to going outdoors to smoke. It was weird drinking your drink and then having to go outside to hit on a square but it becomes habit.

The residents of Michigan will get used to going outdoors to smoke. In many ways, it is for the best. Fresh air does the lungs some good.

[reddog289]

I do see what LBP is saying. I know smoking is bad, But I myself don't see throngs of NON SMOKING PATRONS rushing into the bar I go to saying "Gee I am glad smoking is banned in here". Everything changes. I laugh when I hear about smoking bans, If there is a law it will be broken.

[Meddle]

Doesn't this fund itself? Won't it generate revenue for the county and communities the same way traffic tickets and other citations do?

[ferntruth]

I do see what LBP is saying. I know smoking is bad, But I myself don't see throngs of NON SMOKING PATRONS rushing into the bar I go to saying "Gee I am glad smoking is banned in here". Everything changes. I laugh when I hear about smoking bans, If there is a law it will be broken.

I AM one of those people who will rush into places I currently avoid because of the smoking that is currently allowed. I will also be one of the patrons who gripes the loudest about people violating the law, and will stay on business owners who fail to enforce.

Bottom line: The law is enacted. Get over it and all smokers can walk their "butts" outside to enjoy their slow suicide.

[Supersport]

Looks like he changed his mind. My question is, does Oakland County not enforce liquor license laws? Do they not already enforce total occupancy and fire code requirements? During inspections, wouldn't any tickets that were wrote create additional income? Seems to me that somebody just wanted a little exposure, so they threw their little tantrum and got two days of press in both papers.

ps...hey buddy, good job with the Silverdome! I see you have Monster Truck Sundays and Motocross back. LMAO

http://freep.com/article/20100416/OP...-to-his-senses

[SWMAP]

I am a SW Detroiter and it is the happiest thing to me that Duly's will be smoke-free! It's just unbelievable to me that patrons in that railroad car actually light up and smoke, blowing smoke in the faces of people sitting right next to them at the counter. So crass and rude. The owners shrug it off. I haven't been there in awhile because they allow it.

I can't wait.

[Detroitnerd]

Ah, yes, all those wonderful places to go after May 1. What a shame that, up until now, they were wasted on working-class people and their filthy habits.

[SWMAP]

Think I am working-class and I wouldn't dream of blowing a known cancer- and asthma- causing fume smoke into your nose and throat if you were sitting 12 inches from me in a very enclosed space!

[Detroitnerd]

Think I am working-class and I wouldn't dream of blowing a known cancer- and asthma- causing fume smoke into your nose and throat if you were sitting 12 inches from me in a very enclosed space!

Oh, yes. I am not necessarily talking about you, SWMAP. [[Of course, once we all get behind the wheel we do the same thing and nobody seems to care.) But there is definitely a class component to this that you may not see very clearly. The scolding, finger-wagging, censure of the old days is alive and well.

[1KielsonDrive]

Looks like he changed his mind. My question is, does Oakland County not enforce liquor license laws? Do they not already enforce total occupancy and fire code requirements? During inspections, wouldn't any tickets that were wrote create additional income? Seems to me that somebody just wanted a little exposure, so they threw their little tantrum and got two days of press in both papers.

ps...hey buddy, good job with the Silverdome! I see you have Monster Truck Sundays and Motocross back. LMAO

http://freep.com/article/20100416/OP...-to-his-senses

All excellent [[rhetorical) questions and your summation puts it in the exact proper perspective.

[1KielsonDrive]

Ah, yes, all those wonderful places to go after May 1. What a shame that, up until now, they were wasted on working-class people and their filthy habits.

Hey Mister Facetious, nothing like making class war out of this. You might add that it's fascist, socialist and communist, to complete the rhetoric.

[Detroitnerd]

Hey Mister Facetious, nothing like making class war out of this. You might add that it's fascist, socialist and communist, to complete the rhetoric.

Oh, Kielson. Straw-manning and false equivalency suggest you are defensive but don't have much in the way of a comeback.

Is it not true that well-to-do people often are more politically powerful and impose their will on the have-nots?

And do you disagree that the issue of public smoking has often been framed in a puritanical context, and not a genuine public health context?

Or if you just want to lob a bunch of accusations, have at it. Whatever your speed is.

[Fury13]

Oh, yes. I am not necessarily talking about you, SWMAP. [[Of course, once we all get behind the wheel we do the same thing and nobody seems to care.) But there is definitely a class component to this that you may not see very clearly. The scolding, finger-wagging, censure of the old days is alive and well.

At least that's the way YOU perceive or imagine it.

You mean, if I lit up a butt, all of a sudden I'd be "down to earth" or "keepin' it real"?

Sheesh, get over it.

[Fury13]

Oh, Kielson. Straw-manning and false equivalency suggest you are defensive but don't have much in the way of a comeback.

Is it not true that well-to-do people often are more politically powerful and impose their will on the have-nots?

And do you disagree that the issue of public smoking has often been framed in a puritanical context, and not a genuine public health context?

Or if you just want to lob a bunch of accusations, have at it. Whatever your speed is.

Those who cry "victim" are doomed to BE victims.