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by Denise on Tue Aug 14, 2007 11:06 am
City of Shawnee | Shawnee Connect
Smoking Task Force Meeting for Public Comment Information (pdf) Shawnee Smoking Task Force Meeting for Public Comment - August 15, 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - July 26, 2007

The Shawnee Smoking Task Force will hold a meeting for public comment on:

Wednesday, August 15, 2007
6:30 p.m.
City Council Chambers, City Hall
11110 Johnson Drive, Shawnee, Kansas 66203
Upon recommendation by the City Council, the Smoking Task Force was appointed by Mayor Jeff Meyers to examine the issues surrounding smoke free ordinances, obtain input from the general public and to develop recommendations for the Governing Body to consider. The purpose of the public meeting is to give residents, business owners and the general public in Shawnee an opportunity to express their opinions and be heard on the subject of a smoking ban. The Governing Body values the level of community involvement in Shawnee, and believes that it is important to involve the community in discussing this important issue. For more information about this hearing call (913) 631-2500.

If you would like to submit written comments regarding the issue, you may send them to:

City of Shawnee
Smoking Task Force
11110 Johnson Drive
Shawnee, Kansas 66203
E-mail to: ssinger@cityofshawnee.org

For more information contact: Sara Singer, (913) 631-2500 ext. 259

City of Shawnee, 11110 Johnson Drive, Shawnee, KS 66203
(913) 631-2500 Fax (913) 631-7351 E-Mail
Denise Newbie
Newbie Joined: Mar 03, 2007 Posts: 3
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by runamok on Tue Aug 14, 2007 8:08 pm
"The Governing Body values the level of community involvement in Shawnee, and believes that it is important to involve the community in discussing this important issue."

Just before they shove it down their throats regardless of any discussion that takes place.

These public hearings for smoking bans are ususally rigged with anti-furnished talking heads from various organ organizations that have been given a heads up weeks or even months ahead of these things. Often, the general public is given little if any notice. A kangaroo court if there ever was one.
runamok Smoking Lobby Sponsor
Smoking Lobby Sponsor Joined: Dec 20, 2004 Posts: 1019
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by Lynda F on Tue Aug 14, 2007 8:27 pm
These public hearings are nothing but show for the people. The decision has already been made, but they want the people to think they have a say.

Just like our whole election process. We all know damned well it's rigged.
Lynda F Enthusiastic Smoker
Enthusiastic Smoker Joined: May 02, 2007 Posts: 332 Location: Phoenix, AZ
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by Denise on Tue Aug 14, 2007 8:50 pm
I know you guys are right.. we are fighting a losing battlle. But I can't do this by myself. I need help! Please...any input before the hearing would be appreciated....just so they know.
Denise Newbie
Newbie Joined: Mar 03, 2007 Posts: 3
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by Lynda F on Wed Aug 15, 2007 9:44 am
Denise wrote:
I know you guys are right.. we are fighting a losing battlle. But I can't do this by myself. I need help! Please...any input before the hearing would be appreciated....just so they know.


Agreed. BUT if they specifically state "residents and business owners of Shawnee" for wanting to hear from. We can all write, but since we already know they aren't going to give the actual residents and business owners opinions any weight, they sure as hell are just going to ignore and trash other from outside the locale, and definitely from outside the state.
Lynda F Enthusiastic Smoker
Enthusiastic Smoker Joined: May 02, 2007 Posts: 332 Location: Phoenix, AZ
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by Darkseid on Thu Aug 16, 2007 5:35 am
"The Governing Body values the level of community involvement in Shawnee, and believes that it is important to involve the community in discussing this important issue."
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Just before they shove it down their throats regardless of any discussion that takes place.
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BEST thing you've ever said here. Riddle me this, Batman....Has there EVER been a city council.board of health/group of county commissioners that have NOT passed a ban after the phony 'hearings'? I even recall reading once about one where several hundred people showed up. Small and large business owners were against it. Smokers were against it. Non-smoking veterans and freedom-lovers were against it. SIX people were for it-and since theose six were from the ALA, the AHA, and the ACS-everyone else was ignored, and it was passed. Remember the statement by that bar and restaurant owner in OheilO-about when they were holding the hearings in my state after the ban was passed? They were trying to figure out how to enforce it in the state. The guy said a few months lateron his blog, calling for a concerted effort to get the ban overturned-"Get angry-and remember back to when you were testifying in front of them telling how your life's work and investment would be wiped out, and they were laughing, joking, and talking about what they were going to have for lunch."


Last edited by Darkseid on Thu Aug 16, 2007 7:31 am; edited 1 time in total
Darkseid Smoking Lobby Sponsor
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by gilster on Thu Aug 16, 2007 7:12 am
Darkseid wrote:
Has there EVER been a city council.board of health/group of county commissioners that have NOT passed a ban after the phony 'hearings'?


There's been some success in the fights, here's on from Northampton, MA - one of the most liberal towns in the United States- the home of Smith College - they beat the ban in private clubs:
http://www.masslive.com/chicopeeholyoke/republican/index.ssf?/base/news-8/1177142030281960.xml&coll=1

You're right, they are very few and far between.

I do encourage everyone to go to these meeting, my town meetings were pathetic - but some of us went and we fought - our town lost 2-1 with the health board.

The key to winning, especially with private clubs, is to explain to the city that all previous charity given to the town will be stripped away in order to keep the establishments bottom line healthy.
[We did not do that in our town meetings - we screwed-up]

Any win I'm seeing around here is from a pure money angle.

If your town-city-county relies on charity from businesses that they want to trounce-rights...explain to them that they will be responsible for organizations that once got 'freebies' will now have to pay their way [whether renting halls or straight charity]
Because of their decision, property taxes will need to go up and it will be on their shoulders.
Because of their decision, charities will be harmed and they will need to get the funds from another source - the general tax-payer.

They don't want to go there - it will make them look worse to the voters - much worse than keeping smoking.

It's all about the money - and not the businesses money (we of course know that gov't agencies don't care about business - it's about how THEY will be perceived by the public - it's CYA)
gilster Smokers Rights Activist
Smokers Rights Activist Joined: Apr 19, 2006 Posts: 789
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by runamok on Thu Aug 16, 2007 12:45 pm
gilster wrote:
There's been some success in the fights, here's one from Northampton, MA - one of the most liberal towns in the United States- the home of Smith College - they beat the ban in private clubs:
http://www.masslive.com/chicopeeholyoke/republican/index.ssf?/base/news-8/1177142030281960.xml&coll=1
Exempting private clubs? LMAO! Hardly what I'd call a success. Besides...they'll be back in a year or two to plug that hole.
runamok Smoking Lobby Sponsor
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by smokem on Fri Aug 17, 2007 10:07 am
It's a small success but I say it counts these days. Massachusetts has a state-wide ban on non-private establishments which ain't gonna go soon so private clubs are the only battlefield at present there, and politically correct Northampton particularly would certainly love to open an (MSA-funded) smoker-skin lampshade factory, so sure, this is a successful speed bump. Probably the Reich will pound this speed bump flat in a year or more or less but it'll never get them all because every one of us is a speed bump. Human nature actually won the booze war near a century ago only after hysterical alcohol prohibitionists won a total victory that could not hold up. The hysterical tobacco prohibitionists are well on their way to total victory today. They are running over us with a Mack truck but the faster and further they go the more likely we land them on their bloodied faces at a certain turn in the road. We can win. We'll bleed for a long time but we can bleed them dry in the end. Hooray for speed bumps. They may seem a petty annoyance in a dismal parking lot like Northampton, but in the open country, on an interstate highway, they'll kill you.
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by dumpstermcnuggets on Mon Sep 03, 2007 8:29 pm
smokem wrote:
The hysterical tobacco prohibitionists are well on their way to total victory today. They are running over us with a Mack truck but the faster and further they go the more likely we land them on their bloodied faces at a certain turn in the road. We can win. We'll bleed for a long time but we can bleed them dry in the end. Hooray for speed bumps. They may seem a petty annoyance in a dismal parking lot like Northampton, but in the open country, on an interstate highway, they'll kill you.


I'm still waiting for that one curve or speed-bump in the road that does finally kill all anti groups..... *sigh*

However, I do realize the angle you're coming from by making that theoretical story up, and I enjoyed reading it. So, cheers to you for writing that!
dumpstermcnuggets Enthusiastic Smoker
Enthusiastic Smoker Joined: Nov 06, 2006 Posts: 224 Location: Health Fascism Capital of the Midwest, Illinois
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