http://stories.baytownsun.com/story.lasso?ewcd=5eb2926e511c6df0

Smokers group seeks support to pass Prop. 1

By Barrett Goldsmith
Baytown Sun

Published April 16, 2007

Music played, drinks flowed and cigarettes burned on a cool, bright Sunday afternoon at a rally meant to garner support for Proposition 1, a May 12 ballot initiative that would re-instate Baytown’s old smoking ordinance and allow smoking in bars and designated smoking sections in properly ventilated restaurants.

A few dozen volunteers from Citizens for Property Rights, patrolled a fenced-in area of the Tiki Bay parking lot, wearing T-shirts showcasing a quote by Thomas Jefferson — “Private property is the foundation of all civilized societies.” Though no attendance or money figures were available at press time, organizers were happy with the turnout.

“Obviously folks are concerned about the city taking away our rights and citizens and as private property owners,” said James Haarmeyer of CPR. “I live in the United States, but sometimes it’s hard to tell.”

The group, which also supports Cedar Bayou residents in their fight against the creation of a barge terminal near Roseland Park, successfully petitioned to put the initiative on the May 12 ballot. The new smoking ordinance, which prohibits smoking in all enclosed businesses, was adopted after a November election in which 57 percent of city voters approved the measure.

“This new ordinance has hurt a lot of businesses in this area,” CPR volunteer Jack Adcox said. “People are going outside the city limits to spend their money. But nobody’s enforcing the ordinance, and it’s not being followed, anyway.”

The event featured live music throughout the day from acts such as JFK Suicide Theory and Texas Guitar Johnny Brown, and a prize raffle drawing with appliances and a pair of electric guitars, donated by local businesses.

Tammy Thomas, who owns Knuckleheads Bar, was one of many local bar owners out in support of Proposition 1. She said it has put a major dent in her bars businesses.

“You work so hard to own a business, and then you finally get there and then they do something like this to you,” Thomas said. “I’d say 40 percent of our customers want to smoke, and when we tell them they can’t, what are they going to do? Usually, they leave the bar, and they certainly don’t stay as long.”

Peter Eng made the trip from San Antonio to support what he believes is an important front in the battle for property rights. Eng only recently earned his U.S. citizenship after immigrating from Sweden.

“Something like this would never happen in my country,” Eng said. “You hear all these things about America being about freedom and the rights of the individual – this is certainly not an example of that.”