Sova is out of touch
Regarding (City Councilman Bill) Sova's responses to the smoking ban and the concerns of Irish Pub owner Ted Calantino's concerns, Sova says: "The general nature of bars compromises public safety more than forcing smokers outside to partake in tobacco." And, "Maybe it's (Calantino's) responsibility to take additional steps for safety - adding lights or hiring additional security. He should be accountable for having a well-lit, safe area for those people who still choose to smoke." And, "Maybe we need to cut down the number of bars." And regarding the number of bars and police officers per-capita in Pueblo, "I think there's a correlation there. We're spending a lot of taxpayer money to baby bar owners that allow unruly behavior. I feel it's a waste of taxpayer money to do that when police could be out doing more community-minded endeavors."
Sova has his head in the sand or somewhere again. Does he not know that rapes, beatings and sexual assaults have taken place in parking lots of restaurants, malls, discount stores, schools, collage dorms, homes and motel rooms throughout Pueblo and other cities? Who's that basketball player that's been in the news for a while now? Or did Sova miss that one? Do all these places need more lights and need to hire additional security and do we "need to cut down the number" of these businesses?
Is there a "correlation" between these businesses and police officers "per-capita" in Pueblo? A lot of taxpayer money is being spent to "baby" crimes in the streets, domestic disputes, drugs, holdups and burglaries. A whole lot more taxpayer money is spent in those areas than on a bar owner, or any business owner, being forced to send employees and customers into the streets.
It wasn't Calantino's choice to send his employee out of a safe environment that night. They were obeying the "law." But how does Sova put it? According to The Chieftain article, "Sova, a vocal supporter of the anti-smoking ordinance, said the 'incident' has not changed his opinion that the ban has been a 'success'." The "incident." My God. A woman is raped and beaten and he calls it an "incident." What a man of compassion. The smoking bans "success" has a higher priority with him. For a "doctor" that's some bedside manner.
To my customers and those of other bars who are blue collar workers, doctors, lawyers, accountants, women who work and are the glue that holds our families and lives together and every other cross section of worker in Pueblo, this is what Bill Sova thinks of you if you go to your favorite bar to relax and enjoy the company of your friends. From the Chieftain article, I quote Bill Sova, "If these are the kinds of people that frequent these establishments and constitute their patrons - you know, the gang element and troublemakers - then maybe those places shouldn't be open." He is so out-of-touch and has no idea of all the wonderful people of Pueblo who are bar patrons as well as his patients.
Dan Wolf Pueblo