Smoking Ban Opponents Organize
A Telegraph Report
Opponents to a proposed city ordinance to ban smoking in restaurants and small bars met Tuesday night to criticize bans and plot strategy.
Former City Council Member Mike Bozarth introduced Bob Meeks, Co-founder of the United Freedom Coalition, a group formed to protect freedom of choice and property rights. “I’ve known Bob Meeks for many years. He’s stubborn, bull-headed and not afraid to fight for what he believes in.”
Bozarth successfully led a group of Council Members in 2007 to block a smoking ban proposed by city staff. He again called for a “Truth In Smoking” ordinance as a compromise that would require businesses to post whether or not smoking is allowed inside on entrance doors.
“The reason I’m doing this is for the words choice and freedom,” Meeks told about 30 people gathered at Legends Bar and Grill. “A smoking ban is a slap in the face to any veteran who has fought for freedom overseas.”
“If we let a smoking ban pass, what will they want to ban next?” Meeks encouraged the attendees to contact their Council Members and attend some of the public meetings seeking input.
The meetings will be held in the City Council Chambers Jan. 29 at 9 a.m.; Jan. 31 at 7 p.m.; Feb. 7 at 3 p.m.; Feb. 11 at 7 p.m.; Feb. 15 at 9 a.m.; Feb. 20 at 3 p.m. and Feb. 25 at 7 p.m.
Meeks said the United Freedom Coalition will meet again after a couple of the public input meetings are held.
What’s so wrong with letting smokers go to places that allow smoking and non-smokers go to places that don’t?
Why do some people in the community and some Council Members think they have to decide for us?
No To Smoking Ordinance!
Regarding the possibility of a new anti-smoking law. What is wrong with the word NO?
No more social engineered laws.
Ken Beck
St. Joseph
Why is the Telegraph coverage of this meeting so different than that of the News Press? They didn’t even mention that Former Councilman Bozarth was there. They made it sound like it was mostly bar owners present. They also said there were 20 people in attendance and The Telegraph said there were about 30.
What are we supposed to believe?
I’m very happy to read this. This is the kind of information that needs to be put out and not the random misinformation that we get from the News Press and other local media. Appreciate you letting people know there are two sides to this debate!
A property owner should be able to make the decision as to whether they allow smoking on their property or not. Why do some people want to play God?
Why not allow the people who spend their own money to buy property and start a business to decide what to allow and what not to allow on their property?
I’m glad to see some people get together to fight this proposed smoking ban. Clean Air St. Joe has flooded both local television stations and seems to dominate opinion at the news press. We need to let St. Joe know there are many solid reasons we should leave the policy as it is.
It seems that the local media is mostly owned by Mr Bradley, who’s wife, I believe, is the head of the Health Department. She announces before every meeting that she supports a smoking ban in businesses, and then announces that she isn’t lobbying for the law. A spade is a spade, Darlin. You can call it what you like but it is lobbying.
What haughty people we have in their ivory towers, looking down on we peons
(pee ons) and making decisions, which we as property owning Americans are supposed to be free to do!
I called St Joe Health Department 816 271 4636 and asked for Clean Air St Joe. Operator put me right through to Stephanie. Stephanie says that Clean Air St Joe is NOT a registered non profit. THey ARE receiving funds from non profit organizations (and the government) and she does not know where their money comes from. She says they do not report their donations on a 990. (A grassroots group without a non profit filing and who does not file a 990, who take donations?!) I asked Stephanie specifically if CASJ takes donations from RObert Wood Johnson Foundation, and she told me she would have Nancy (woman in charge of finances) call me back. SHe wanted to know who I was and what I wanted this information for.
Clean Air St Joe is operating from inside the Health Department, when they say they are a grassroots organization. They are operating on TAX PAYER TIME when they are doing this lobbying for a ban! They should be required to either
1 STOP lobbying on tax payer time
2 Report all donations to the public since they are requesting these grants through their jobs at the Health Department
3 Grassroot organizations NOR registered non profits nor City, County, or State employees, are supposed to be using government funds for lobbying for legislation, ie smoking bans. It is against the law.
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