Disqus - Latest Comments for Allan

Re: St. Louis’ Sidewalks Will Be More Crowded with Smokers Than in NYC?

Allan — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 03:58:17 -0000

BTW, if I theoretically had enough money to attempt opening my own business, maybe I would take that risk and open up the first smoke-free gay bar or bowling alley in STL. It'd just be hard to decide whether I should try my hand at running a bowling alley or gay bar first! :)

Re: St. Louis’ Sidewalks Will Be More Crowded with Smokers Than in NYC?

Allan — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 03:52:40 -0000

Chris, what is so hard to understand from my initial post? I do realize that issues such as mice in kitchens, and where shooting ranges can be placed need to be regulated. (which were your examples of basic safety regulations) Not to mention, the negative word of mouth about mice living in a restaurant kitchen, or even food poisoning, would shut down most restaurants anyway.

Regardless if you want to admit the truth, and not hide behind your hatred of smelling cigarette smoke(and I respect that there are many out there that don't like smelling smoke), I've seen many, many studies that show second-hand smoke is thousands of times safer than basic OSHA standards regulating indoor air quality. What's so wrong with someone wanting to theoretically smoke in a private club designed for smokers, and which would be a place that a non-smoker not wanting to breathe smoke would never think of entering? Bars that cater to a blue-collar crowd and allow smoking basically cater to that same crowd. Tony's post on Sep. 25th nailed my views perfectly on the issue, that an activity(for this case, cigarette/cigar smoking) one may consider obnoxious, the next person may find enjoyable. I also second him in that anyone who smokes would never consider smoking in a place, where the owner voluntarily chose to prohibit smoking.

I hope you're ready for all the bars and other businesses that will look the other way and illegally allow smoking, if a comprehensive smoking ban for Saint Louis city were to ever pass. I have seen many articles about how many bars in cities under total smoking bans look the other way, and allow smoking anyway, including in NYC. Not to mention, I've seen it occur in many Illinois and Ohio businesses post-state smoking ban, from my travels around both states. And Ohio ban defiance is well-documented on the site Smoke Choke Ohio, at http://www.smokechoke.com . I just wish that non-smokers who want smoke-free bars would actually try to better patronize such bars rather than not doing a good job of it, and which possibly could've prevented the closure of the former smoke-free bar rBar. (which has since reopened as a smoking establishment) I'm glad that some STL bar owners/entrepreneurs are trying to cater to the demand for smoke-free bars by going totally smoke-free, and/or opening up their own smoke-free establishment. However, I will never agree with broad government-imposed smoking bans covering virtually all private businesses, and where the language of such bans is often totally copied and pasted from anti-smoking websites. If every private business wanted to voluntarily go smoke-free tomorrow, I would not object to it.

Re: St. Louis’ Sidewalks Will Be More Crowded with Smokers Than in NYC?

Allan — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 03:16:51 -0000

Chris, I'm very disappointed to see that you are an anti that is hiding behind the guise of smoking being a 'basic health hazard', when the activities you describe are UNSEEN activities that warrant a ban, and are true health hazards. OTOH, smoking is a SEEN activity that one can avoid, and restaurants and bars permitting smoking don't hide the fact if one can permit it. Countless studies have disproven the allegation about secondhand smoke being dangerous, and a federal court even vacated a 1992 EPA report on SHS.

My home state of Illinois has already been ruined, because of a state smoking ban. I'd hate to see such draconian laws spread to places like Saint Louis, or the state of Missouri for that matter. What's so wrong with a compromise law that both sides(anti-smoking, and pro-smoking) can live with, such as Saint Louis City Ald. Stephen Gregali's proposal to restrict smoking in a fair manner:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/8648725/BB0031

Wichita, Kansas has a pretty fair smoking ordinance, too:
http://www.wichita.gov/CityOffic...OCI/ Smoking.htm

[slp -- both sides can't live with weakened laws. The St. Louis bill is already weaker than I'd like it to be.]

Re: Poll, How Long Before the City of St. Louis Will Be Smoke-Free

Allan — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 10:56:15 -0000

I've first-hand witnessed the effects of Illinois' state ban(plus various local smoking bans that existed in the 2 years after a smoking ban local control bill passed, and before the state ban begun), and I can absolutely assure Saint Louisians that the effects of a smoking ban(regardless if local or statewide) are NOT pretty. Casinos throughout the state of Illinois are DOWN by greater than 20% statewide, and many bars have had to either cut back staff or their hours, thanks to the state ban. Also, many bars ignore the ban throughout the state to keep their customers coming.

Your city has a great luxury in leaving free choice up to each private business(and one I'm jealous people in other cities still get to enjoy, as a Chicagoian who no longer can enjoy how my city once was), and it'd be ridiculous to take it away from all private business, all because of the demands of selfish anti-smoking groups. To all who are opposing the Saint Louis city ban, please keep fighting this proposal, and all other local, county, + regional ban proposals that surface. I'm sorry to hear Clayton did pass a local smoking ban, and ignored the restauranteurs that highlighted Ballwin's problems after they passed a smoking ban.

Hope Smoke-Free STL City will be happy with all the ban defiance that will occur under a city ban, like it has in one state having a smoking ban:
http://www.smokechoke.com/

Re: Update: Free Frango mints until May 31

Allan — Tue, 29 May 2007 01:44:44 -0000

Sweet, I'm so gonna try to make a trip to the downtown Field's/Macy's now, so I can get some free Frangos! :)

Thanks for posting that, since I almost didn't hear about this.... (and since I also heard it's only through this week)

Re: Update: Free Frango mints until May 31

Allan — Tue, 29 May 2007 01:45:41 -0000

And btw, is this only the downtown State St. location doing this, or are all Macy's/Field's stores doing this until the 31st?