Texas is looking better and better.
I hate to tell you this, but Texas anti's are working hard to ban smoking in the whole state. San Antonio now is smoke-free as well some other cities and towns.
Our governor and state legislators continue to pass laws and policies that restrict individuals and businesses.
I've had enough. My wife and I are seriously considering just getting out of here.
Texas is looking better and better.
To paraphrase Jerry Lee Lewis, Illinois can just kiss my a$$.
I hate to tell you this, but Texas anti's are working hard to ban smoking in the whole state. San Antonio now is smoke-free as well some other cities and towns.
February 5, 2005
By Leanne Libby Caller-Times
On Friday morning, Jacques Triplett, general manager of Greyhound Racing on Leopard Street, called the Corpus Christi-Nueces County Public Health District to make sure he was up to speed on the city's new smoking ordinance.
"I thought they'd come out and say, 'you can have smoking here but no smoking here,' " Triplett said about his facility.
Instead, he learned that the racetrack, which offers a buffet Fridays and Saturdays, and concessions the rest of the week, cannot allow smoking in any areas any time the track is open to the public.
Triplett estimated about 500 to 600 people come to the racetrack on Fridays and Saturdays, with about 300 in attendance the rest of the time.
"It's rough, when they allow it in bingo halls, pool halls and bowling alleys," Triplett said. "They said 75 percent of my sales would have to come from the bars but 75 percent doesn't even come from food. It's mainly from racing."
Larry Jones, environmental and consumer health manager for the district, confirmed the racetrack would need to ban smoking, citing the passage in the city's smoking ordinance barring smoking in any place where food is prepared and intended for individual portion service. The phrase does not apply to family meals in private homes.
Jones said there might be other businesses facing such unexpected news.
"We believe situations will come up where there is a real question," Jones said. "I will refer them to the city's legal department."
City Manager Skip Noe said he expects a lot of questions to come up over the next week or two.
"That's one reason we had that public meeting, to solicit questions," he said. "The more of this stuff we can get on the table and work through, the better."
The fight for a smoking ban began in November, when a group called Smoke Free Rights Now marked the annual Great American Smoke Out by calling on the city to ban smoking in area restaurants and bars. The group said secondhand smoke posed a pressing public health issue.
Opponents, including the group Citizens for Choice and Common Sense and some restaurant owners, fought back, saying restaurant owners have a right to run their businesses as they see fit.
City Council members passed the ban with a 9-0 vote on Jan. 11 and set Feb. 1 as the effective date. On Jan. 31, litigation began.
A temporary restraining order was issued this past Monday but lifted Wednesday, leading the city to announce it would begin enforcing the ban next Monday. The next step in the legal battle is a pretrial hearing set for March 23 in federal court.
Triplett, who describes smoking as very popular at the track, said the racetrack will comply with the ban when it opens its doors Tuesday. The racetrack is closed on Mondays. Triplett said he would wait to see what impact the ban has before considering further action. Meanwhile, he'll work on making sure everyone who visits the track knows why puffing is prohibited.
"We'll put tent signs on all the tables," he said, adding the signs will explain the ordinance rules and refer all questions to the health district.
"I'm afraid it's going to bite into us pretty good," he said.
Contact Leanne Libby at 886-3618 or libbyl@caller.com
http://www.caller.com/