Colorado: Smoking ban sought in Greenwood Village

Rocky Mountain News ^ | 3-2-05 | Jennifer Miller

[SheLion]

Dozens turn out as resident presents plan to City Council

GREENWOOD VILLAGE - If Stephanie Steinberg has her way, this city - where thousands of businesspeople spend their work weeks - will be 100 percent smoke-free. 

The stay-at-home mother presented her ideas for banning smoking in public spaces to City Council members Monday night. 

Dozens of local residents, restaurant owners and health officials packed a room to show their support or to voice concern about how a ban would decrease local business revenues. 

It all started when Steinberg and her family went to California last year and ate at a smoke-free sports bar in Santa Monica. 

"I was in denial," she said, remembering searching for people who smoked. "I thought, if they could do it there, we could do it in Greenwood Village." 

Steinberg returned to Colorado and launched a grass-roots effort, Smoke-Free Greenwood Village, which toured local bars and restaurants - where smoking indoors is allowed - and tried to gauge if the community would support a ban. 

After an 11-month effort, she formally presented her findings for the first time at City Hall. 

Her primary goal stood in capital letters among words on a large screen in front of the room: HEALTH. 

"Secondhand smoke should not be a condition of employment," she told the council. Her statistics showed 112 restaurant or bar employees and owners in the city would support the ban or remain neutral. She said eight oppose a ba. 

Several restaurant managers spoke against a ban at the council meeting. "My concern is our business and employees will suffer," said Gerard Boyle, general manager of C.B. & Potts Restaurant & Brewery. 

Boyd said revenues at Potts have dropped in Fort Collins and Broomfield, which have public smoking bans. Some restaurateurs who support the ban said it wouldn't make a big dollar difference. The council plans to revisit the issue and define what is meant by banning smoking in a "public place." 

"I'm not in favor of imposing something we can't enforce," Mayor Nancy Sharpe said after the meeting. "I don't want a police officer getting a call because someone is smoking on a sidewalk."

 

[SheLion]

If Stephanie Steinberg has her way, this city - where thousands of businesspeople spend their work weeks - will be 100 percent smoke-free. 

If this one woman has her way, hundreds of private business's will be hurting within 6 months if not sooner from the loss of revenue if she demands a forced smoking ban.

If only one person can have the power to control, restrict and ban smoking in private business's, none of the private business's will ever be safe again. 

And it can happen!  Look how one group forced the 10 Commandments  from that State House!  Where does it end?  The private business's in this city better wake up and smell the coffee. 

[SheLion]

[SheLion]

[cricket]

"The private business's in this city better wake up and smell the coffee."

Only if they can. . .if Stephanie does not like coffee. . .forget it.

[BykrBayb]

Coffee and cigarettes are double ungood.

[sargunner]

"I was in denial," she said, remembering searching for people who smoked. "I thought, if they could do it there, we could do it in Greenwood Village."

Hmmmm. She had to SEARCH for smokers. I thought these folks could detect their presence at a quarter of a mile.

[SheLion]

Coffee and cigarettes are double ungood.

Says who?  Millions in the United States enjoy coffee and cigarettes.

Better then booze and drugs, wouldn't you say?

[SheLion]

Hmmmm. She had to SEARCH for smokers. I thought these folks could detect their presence at a quarter of a mile.

So did I.  And just the thoughts of one stay at home mom can bring down so many private business's........makes me shudder.

Another Michael Newdow in the making only she is against SMOKERS!

[BykrBayb]

Well, yeah. I'm having coffee and a cigarette right now. But everybody who speaks newspeak knows, they are double ungood.

[kingattax]

stephanie steinberg...jeebus h christmas..

i can just imagine her....overweight and underloved, a proud member of the 'Oprah Book Club', has her nails done twice a week, and has ALL of babs streisand's CDs.

[DH]

Immediately after the interview Ms Steinberg said it was cold and she was going home to sit by the hearth and throw another log on the fire. Shortly afterwards, smoke could be seen coming from her chimney.

Good smoke VS bad smoke!

[Bogtrotter52]

She's probably one of those very annoying people who can be across the street from you and will still make those annoying coughing sounds while GLARING at you.

[CSM]

"Secondhand smoke should not be a condition of employment,"

---

And what makes this stay at home mom an expert on conditions of employment?

(not that there is anything wrong with your job being a mom.)

[exnavychick]

(not that there is anything wrong with your job being a mom.)

You dang skippy there isn't, lol! But that's my question, too. Does she have any professional experience or education...or any real reason why anyone should take what basically amounts to an informal poll seriously? They said this was a grassroots campaign (ha ha)...so why should anyone even buy any of their conclusions? Judging from other stories around the country, the idea that only 8 out of over 100 business owners--hope I got that right--wouldn't support a ban seems questionable in the extreme to me.

C'mon, lady! (From another SAHM)

[CSM]

FYI, I am accepting applications for the position!

[exnavychick]

FYI, I am accepting applications for the position!

LOL!

Be sure not to let this lady know, heh heh. Unless it would be more fun to turn her down! :) Seriously, though, it's the toughest, best job I have ever had. Having all boys probably makes it more of a challenge, lol!

[CSM]

Personally, I think it adds so much to a marriage. The amount of quality time that is provided as a result so the family can actually spend time together in the evenings, is key to strengthening the bond....

Sorry for hijacking the thread....

[exnavychick]

It really does add something, imo. Especially if your husband (or wife, apologies to SAHD's) works a job with regular hours. If not, it's really not as great, I suppose, but still much better than both working!

Thread hijacking is fun! LOL

[ducking and running]

Now back to our thread in progress...

[Annie03]

Stephanie should just move to California. Please.

[Annie03]

LOLOL. I'm an EVIL sahm, as I sit her with my cig and black coffee.