Dave Wiganowsky: Mayor must realize most taverns are suffering under smoking ban

Published: April 14, 2007
A letter to the editor
Dear Editor: Let me congratulate Mayor Dave Cieslewiz on his win -- all his hard work paid off.

In a TV interview after Ray Allen had conceded, the reporter asked him how he liked the smoke-free environment at the High Noon Saloon. He said it was great and he worked to get the smoking ban passed. He also stated that it had really helped business.

I don't believe he lied about something as serious as this, so he must just be misinformed. Some businesses say they have not been hurt by the ban and the Restaurant Association supports a statewide ban. However, most taverns have been severely hurt. Hardworking business people have lost their investments and have had to close -- Hammertime, Northside, The Runway, The Buckeye, Anchor Inn, Bennett's on Park, and there are more mom and pop operations that will have to shut down.

People are stressed when they lose their livelihood and lose what they have worked so hard for all their lives.

Madison may have issued more new licenses but most of those are to large corporations for restaurants and four are at the airport.

Madison said this was to protect the employees' health because secondhand smoke kills, yet the city exempted five clubs and added two more later. If secondhand smoke kills, is the city of Madison then killing the employees of those private clubs?

The mayor claims everyone he talks to is happy about the ban, but he should drive around on most any night, especially Friday and Saturday nights in Monona, Burke, Westport or any other surrounding municipality and then compare their tavern business to Madison's. Many of the nonsmokers are following their friends who smoke to places outside of Madison.

People are driving farther to smoke and drink, putting more drunken drivers on the road.

The debate is not over if secondhand smoke is good or bad for you -- it's about freedom of choice. People have not quit smoking because of the ban, and if cigarettes are that bad, then why has the city not banned the sale of them?

The Madison/Dane County Tavern League and the Coalition to Save Madison Jobs are willing to meet with the mayor to help find a solution that works for everyone. Remember, Mr. Mayor, you represent all of Madison residents and businesses, not just a select group.

Dave Wiganowsky, Madison