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by Tom
on Tue Mar 15, 2005 9:23 am |
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| Last week we were winning the battle in Jersey, but now we seem to be loosing. A bill in Jersey is on the table to ban smoking everywhere. Associations all over the state are fighting this, but it does not look good. The NJ restaurant association lady, Deborah Dowdell, pushed for no exemptions, and she got it at least in the bill. We'll soon see if Debbie's strategy worked for us or for the antis. Then we'll know how to properly label her, a hero or a b&tch. Let's hope the bar, club, bowling, and casino associations are more powerful than her. We just have to hope that the casinos are not so much more powerful that only they get exempt. Then they won't give a f*&k about the rest of the state. |
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Tom
Smokers Rights Activist
Joined: Aug 24, 2003
Posts: 961
Location: The Kingdom of New Jersey
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by redliner1989
on Tue Mar 15, 2005 9:40 am |
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I wouldn't count on it. 
This is an all to familier patern.
The original bill has exemptions in it (that make sense), then the "level playing field" argument takes hold and all is lost.
In our original ban exemptions wer made for Restaraunts that served 40% alcohol, private non-profit clubs, tobacco stores, Bars and Keno Parlors.
This is what happened:
One or two Restaraunts protested that they would lose business if they were to go smoke free, and competing Restaraunts got an exemption. The "anti's" jumped all over this and got EVEN the cheif of police to agree that enforcement would be difficult. ALL exemptions, except for smoking in theatrical performance (the actors) and some Hotel Rooms were taken out and now we have the strictest ban in the State.
I am not saying "all is lost", but there seems to be this pattern that exists.
FYI: Our City, the only one with a strict smoking ban in the State also has the privilege of also being the only City in the State facing a deficit.
On the news last night they were saying they were going to have to Cut 25 Police Officers, 35 Firefighters and close 11 of the Cities 13 Pools.
I only hope that my use of my Supermatic has something to do with this! |
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redliner1989
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by Tom
on Tue Mar 15, 2005 9:47 am |
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I hope this pattern you speak of continues. I have seen that pattern in Jersey for years now. It's kind of funny. There's a ban bill, exemptions are in, then they're out, then the bill fails.
On another note, do you mention that your city has a smoking ban in NJ? That's definately an illegal ban, but it's interesting that the state doesn't care about their rules if they don't agree with them. |
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Tom
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Location: The Kingdom of New Jersey
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by redliner1989
on Tue Mar 15, 2005 9:52 am |
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| Our Ban is in Nebraska Tom. A State that used to pride itself in being fiercly independent is now mostly occupied by a flock of sheep. |
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redliner1989
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by Tom
on Tue Mar 15, 2005 11:26 am |
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| For some reason I thought you were from Jersey, lol. In NJ, towns can't regulate smoking. They've tried time and time again. My town even looked into it at one point, but they wouldn't pass it, because it was too illegal. |
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Tom
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Location: The Kingdom of New Jersey
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by Charles
on Tue Mar 15, 2005 1:22 pm |
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Tom,
I hate to say it but I think it's only a matter of time before it passes. I'm not giving up hope just yet but with our fantastic  interim governor in place I think this is being set up to pass! I think the anti's are trying to use him to their favor and it seems (at the moment) that it is working.
Well, one thing is for sure, I won't be frequenting bars and restaurants like I usually do. Instead, when I'm in the mood for a nice meal I'll be paying a visit to my local butcher and lighting up the BBQ!
Hell, maybe with the money I'm saving staying at home and making my own cigs I'll finish my basement with a bar and home theater and I'll be set! |
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Charles
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Location: New Jersey
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by Tom
on Tue Mar 15, 2005 1:29 pm |
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Quote: I hate to say it but I think it's only a matter of time before it passes.
I know that deep down, but I don't want to accept that just yet. There still is a chance that Debbie and the casinos will battle until November, then this issue would be burried for another 4 years. I wrote to my legislators like Al suggested. Here's a reply I got. Please please do the same if you live in NJ. I just used Al Martonovic's letter. It's posted on an article on this page. He also gives links to the site.
Quote: Dear Constituent:
Thank you for your recent correspondence concerning the ban on smoking in
public places.
Please know that I appreciate your comments and will share them with my
legislative colleagues.
If you have any additional questions or comments, do not hesitate to contact
my office.
Sincerely,
Kevin J. O'Toole
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Tom
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Location: The Kingdom of New Jersey
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by Charles
on Tue Mar 15, 2005 1:34 pm |
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Tom wrote
Quote: I just used Al Martonovic's letter. It's posted on an article on this page. He also gives links to the site.
Where can I find the letter and the link? |
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Charles
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by Tom
on Tue Mar 15, 2005 1:41 pm |
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| It's on the home page here. Right now it's the second article down. NJ to ban indoor smoking. The legislators are reading these letters, so tell everyone to write them. |
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Tom
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by Charles
on Tue Mar 15, 2005 1:52 pm |
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Charles
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