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.
Sounds like “non-smoker” is probably a lot of fun when s/he goes out. Get yourself together and find a place where there isn’t smoking instead of trying to impose your personal proclivities on everyone else. Speak with your dollars.
Sunday evening my family and I were eating at a restaurant in NW St. Louis Co. They did not have a smoking vs. non section and it was horrible. The lady at the table next to us was a chain smoker and had 6-8 cigs in the 45 min. we were waiting on our pizza. It was disgusting. Her son (12-14) was sitting next to her and had to deal with it as well. She did not care if it affected anyone else.
We set up laws to protect the rights of the minority all the time. Why can’t we set up some for the majority once in a while. Missouri needs to ban smoking in all public places. The Restaurant and Bar owners will adjust. See IL, CA, and others. Fast Eddie’s still does a great business and it is now a much nicer place to go.
I am a cigar smoker, but, only outside and away from anyone who is not a smoker.
Hampton,
Why do those who do not care about their own health get to dictate the rules to those of us who do? Smokers are a huge minority in the country yet they still want to do it their way. They can still smoke in states that ban it, they just have to do it outside.
Yeah, b/c I don’t like smoking, I must not be any fun. Good call. Very intuitive of you. And by get yourself together, do you mean that b/c I don’t like smoking, I’m somehow unsuccesful and a drain on society? That I should come around to your way of thinking? Is that how you define “get yourself together?” Because, if that’s the case, I’ll let my life rot in shambles. The point is that I DO enjoy going out, just not coming home smelling like I spent an afternoon with the Marlboro Man. Instead of making rude cracks at someone (which is always the sign of a person who doesn’t know what they’re talking about) why don’t you contribute something meaningful to the debate?
non-smoker: amen. I hate coming home after being out for the night and smelling like a Marlboro. It just begs one to imagine what that crap that does to your lungs..
BNP,
It means he will soon be irrelevant because he is going to be voted out of office. Get it?
Did anyone read the news last week that the air quality in St. Louis is very poor? Why don’t you all start there and try improving the air quality. My circle of friends and myself will not patronize a non-smoking restaurant or bar. Someone cited Illinois, have you read how business in that state is suffering due to the smoking ban? I read last week that the city of Ballwin is also having financial problems due to their smoking ban. If you don’t like to be around smoke, do not patronize those businesses. It seems that non-smokers just like to be around us smokers because we are where the fun is.
Keep St. Louis Free has been talking to big St. Louis labor unions all last week, informing them that this ordinance would ban smoking in all current designated workplace/jobsite smoking areas, in work vehicles/enclosed machinery, and in union halls.
County Executive Dooley, a real union guy, knows that Alderman Krewson and President Reed have received calls from the heads of the AFL-CIO and other St. Louis unions in opposition to the smoking ban in its current form.
For our current flyer against the smoking ban, e-mail us at:
keepst.louisfree@gmail.com
I won’t be voting for Dooley when he’s up for re-election.
I love the way you supposed health nuts think if you ban cigarette smoking that all health problems will be solved. If you care so much about public health how about complaining about the salt available in restaurants. Why not run up to someone heaping salt on their food and say, “Don’t you know that could kill you!” I could get excited about banning twinkies and other extremely sweet treets that are making our children and ourselves obese. We should also ban huge calorie and colosteral portions served by fast food restaurants. If you think being around a smoker is offensive, what about being around some gigantic whale of a person who is a fast food junkie. Then there is garlic eating in public, Whew! Susie Do-Gooder and Dick-Decent please tell me where this stuff ends? There are way bigger things to worry about. Oh yes…then about those people who butt in line……