To: My Friends, Colleagues, Associates
and Fraternal Brothers and Sisters and all Smokers
RE: "Freedom of Choice".
As you are all aware, through falsehoods and misrepresentations, in November 2006, a constitutional amendment was approved by the Voters to Ban Smoking in most public places in Ohio. On December 7th, 2006 the new law (which was not written till after the Voters voted it in) went into effect.
Since that time, many bars, taverns, restaurants, private clubs and other businesses have seen devastating declines in business and income, resulting in many being forced to lock their doors and go out of business entirely.
The resulting economic decline for communities is just as devastating, not only costing many individuals there jobs and income; but placing many on our welfare rolls, loss of tax revenue, as well as the millions of dollars the private clubs raise for very worthy charities that support humanities and will also be forced to close.
As President of our Eagles, I have seen the effects of this smoking ban on our Aerie, and it's not good.
Ironic, that they have sanitized the Smoking Ban by calling it a "Smoke Free Work Place Law", while putting many employees out of any job or place to work.
Since the law went into effect, I have heard countless reports of help coming from our Legislatures and that so-and-so is starting a petition to recall the amendment; but to this day, I have never been asked to sign such petition or anything else.
Lets face reality, this is an Amendment to the State Constitution, and only a repeal of this amendment, by the voters, or a Court Challenge on it's Constitutionality will change it.
I am tired of waiting for someone else to take the lead on this matter and see nothing done.
Therefore I am creating an initiative group, entitled "Coalition for Freedom of Choice" with a sole objective to repeal the Smoking Ban amendment, and instead add an amendment that will allow individual business owners the Freedom of Choice if they want to be smoke free or smoker friendly; to allow individuals the Freedom of Choice to patronize businesses based upon being smoke free or smoker friendly; and the employees to have Freedom of Choice whether to work in a smoke free or smoker friendly environment.
To get this on the ballot, it will take a lot of support and money and Petition Distributors... nearly 500,000 registered voter signatures will be required to get this on the ballot.
If you feel as I do, now is your chance to step up and speak out for Freedom of Choice, contact me as soon as possible if you want to help organize this initiative.
Please pass this along to all Ohio Smokers and other Ohio Residents that believe in Freedom of Choice.
Best wishes!
Rick Rivera
Phone: 216-391-6092
E-mail: rjr_pyro@prodigy.net
Snail-Mail:
Rick Rivera
P.O. Box 75
Kipton, OH 44049
Richard J. Rivera, President
RJR & Associates Special Effects, Inc.
P.O. Box 75
Kipton, OH 44049
Office: 440-774-3932
FAX: 440-774-3934
Cell: 216-319-6092
Providing cutting edge Fireworks, Pyrotechnic & Special Effects for Movies, Theatricals, Concerts and special events throughout the country. |
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Rick Rivera
Newbie
Joined: Feb 13, 2008
Posts: 1
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