Differences between Dooley, Slay could doom smoking ban
Slay, left, and Dooley
ST. LOUIS — Mayor Francis Slay and his counterpart across the county line are congenial political allies, rarely — if ever — openly sparring on a local issue.
But on the push for a regional indoor smoking ban, differences between the mayor and St. Louis County Executive Charlie A. Dooley appear to extinguish any hope of changes.
On Friday, Central West End Alderman Lyda Krewson introduced a bill that would ban smoking at bars and restaurants in the city — but only if the county passed a similar restriction.
The legislation is in line with what Slay — whose family has a deep history in the restaurant business — has said he would support. Slay believes that a regional ban would not place city businesses at risk of losing customers, an argument that seems to discount the potential of them gaining customers adverse to smoke.
Either way, in order for the mayor’s support to be meaningful, the county also has to embrace a smoking ban.
That does not appear likely.
Proponents of a smoking ban on the County Council do not appear to have the four votes required for approval. (Let alone the five needed to override an executive veto.)
A Dooley spokesman last week indicated the county executive does not support a local indoor smoking ban — even if the city does it first.
“What Charlies has said consistently is the only way it works is if its a statewide ban,” Dooley aide Mac Scott said.
And action in Jefferson City is what ultimately might force city bars and restaurants to go smoke-free — because waiting on the county doesn’t look like it will change much.
After the property tax bills come out later this month, what Charlie thinks won’t matter much. He’s toast.
What is she thinking? This should come from the State…. and why give St. Charles one more leg up on the region. BACK OFF LYDA!!
After finding out about Doolie’s position on this serious health issue, everything I ate just ended up all over my keyboard, mixed with gastric juices.
I deon’t know what property tax bills has to do with smoking. Anywho I don’t smoke and never have BUT I feel that eliminating it at bars and restaurants is wrong. In most establishments it is severly restricted so there wan’t be much of a change for patrons who don’t smoke. BUT we should give the smokers an area to relax and enjoy themselves as long as they are in their own section. If it’s an unlimited smoking facility then the non-smokers can avoid it altogether.
Doolie - For putting your interests ahead of my family’s health & safety, we will make sure you do not get one vote from family, friends, and neighbors. Way to go bud! Now you deserve take a smoke, and be sure to blow your fumes in everyone’s face.
BNB - uhhhhh, you’re a smoker.
This is just ridiculous - how, in a time period when we know so much about the detrimental effects of smoke and second-hand smoke, can this even be a discussion? If people want to smoke, let’em - but not out in public. Because you were stupid enough to pick up a bad habit that will inevitably shorten your life, why should I suffer? I’ve stopped going places that allow indoor smoking, and I would imagine others would be doing the same thing. The fact that our idiot leaders (and Dooley most definitley fits that mold) are too scared to take the initiative on this and institute shows just how good a leader he is. If Columbia, MO can institue a smoking ban, there is no reason St. Louis and St. Louis Country cannot. If you smoke, and want to continue to smoke, do it someplace else, but don’t blow it in my face claiming that it;s your right, because it most assuredly is not.
I don’t smoke either but banning smoking everywhere is riduclous. It is a LEGAL substance. Start by making it illegal first - ever hear of Prohibition?
Then make it illegal, it won’t bother me at all. To compare to prohibition is like comparing apples and oranges. You could drink all you want to right in front of me, get so wasted that you pass out and vomit on yourself, but it doesn’t affect MY health at all. So long as smoking interferes with my personal health, then I could care less what our government does to curb this substance. Ultimately, businesses will lose more, long term, if they don’t ban it themselves. And look at Columbia as an example - business owners complained and complained and complained about losing business, and after almost a year or being implemented, business has gone up in most local bars.
I also don’t smoke. And I agree with BNB. Let the restaurants decide for themselves. And if this was such a serious health issue, why don’t we have a generation of flight attendants on respirators?