To whome it may concern,

I am completely and utterly disgusted at people being able to tell a business owner what to do. Did they buy the establishment? No, therefore they should not tell the business owner how to run there place. If you don't like smoking, don't go. But, you cannot tell people how to run their businesses. The employees of the bars also have "chosen" to work in these places. There are aware of the risks, but still choose to do so.

I wish non smokers or folks against smoking would get off of their pedestal and leave people to make there own decisions. That is what this country is built upon.

Why are ya'll doing a smoking ban if smoking in public places been going for years and why are you trying to stop this right now no offense but people can smoke where they feel free to and the owners of the public places can say if they can smoke or NOT.Did ya'll know the owners are loosing money only because people can't smoke in their places!

I am actually a smoker in favor of the ban! I am aware of the risks of smoking but engage in the practice anyway. I may choose to take the risk with my own life but feel that it is UNETHICAL for me to make that choice for those around me. I will even step outside at my own home rather than inflict my second hand smoke on my house guests.

Why should I SELFISHLY engage in the habit of smoking in a public bar etc and in doing so inflict harm on those around me or DENY those who do not wish to be at risk from my habit the chance to enjoy the venue! THAT WOULD BE THE ULTIMATE MANIFESTATION OF SELFFISHNESS!

Since when should 'catering their customers' include allowing people to inflict harm on each other! It would be more reasonable to provide a safe environment for everyones enjoyment. Then, as a smoker, yes... a smoker! I will have the choice of whether to enter a smoke free bar or not! If I choose to enter I can also choose to step outside for a smoke if I feel so inclined!

Tim, you aren't "making that choice for anyone" because you can't make choices for anyone. Unless you believe you have the power to control other people, the choice to be exposed to second hand cigarette smoke is always up to the individual. I don't smoke and I choose to enter bars and pubs knowing they will be brimming with burning tobacco. I choose to go in and so does everyone else. We know the atmosphere in places that allow smoking is not a positive health experience.

If you are really concerned about forcing your will on others, then you wouldn't support a smoking ban, which is that exact thing! The property owner that wants to allow smoking is no longer allowed to do so because people like you want him or her punished. You worry about harm but you don't consider the very real harm you do to individual freedom and these businesses by such a ban.

And let me be clear that if you think accusing me or anyone else of selfishness is not going to stick as an insult, at least in my opinion. I challenge you to survive a day without any concern for your self.

What freedom will be taken from "America" next?

This is awful...please vote against banning a legal activity in a private establishment.

i relly do not like the band on somkeing at the bars in austin texas i have friends that play at the dizzyroster and the velvet spade and stubbs and the paramount etc please do not band the somke band

I would like to thank our former Democratic Mayor Gus Garcia for bringing this smoking ban to the table upon his exiting office. Unfortunately, our Austin residents were not aware of the good this would bring about. Thanks to our current Liberal Mayor Will Wynn and our democratic friends in the City Council, Austin can now join the ranks of New York City and Seattle in distinguishing itself as environmentally friendly towards his fellow man. I would also lke to thank Californians for a smoke free Texas for all their hard work in trying to get people signed up for getting out the vote. I would also like to thank all the nice folks in our senior community for helping us get the ban passed. Like me, you do not visit the bars in downtown Austin. The caravans were a great turnout. Let us continue in our efforts try to clean up our downtown from the crime and hedonism that plagues it and the establishments that fuel unscrupulous activities. 600 bars is way to many for Austin. Let us make it mre friendly towards our gay community too.

Texas Liberal, if you had any fucking clue what the second word of that label meant, you'd end your gawddamn life out of sheer shame for saying that.

And if it was meant sarcastically, then I apologize. Those who voted for this cannot say they are for a free liberal society.

Only the tobacco people and brain-damaged smokers are working against smoke-free air, to which we ALL have A LONG-STANDING RIGHT!

Smoke-free air has ALWAYS proven to be good for people and for businesses (except the tobacco "business", which is illegal, anyway).

Smoke-free is the way to be! Ban tobacco smoke AND tobacco.

Toxic tobaco smoke kills 65,000 Innocent Americans every year. No one should ever, ever have to breathe this witch's brew of carcinogens and poisons. Toxic tobacco smoke should rightfully be banned in ALL public places and workplaces, no exceptions or exemptions.

Frank, I see you and "proud liberal democrat" has shaken off your cloaks to stand tall in the emerging light of Health Fascism.

Ban this! Ban that!

Thanks for contributing to the death of a free society.

SMOKING BANS ARE THE REAL THREAT TO DEMOCRACY!!

The bandwagon of local smoking bans now steamrolling across the nation -
from sea to sea- has nothing to do with protecting people from the supposed
threat of "second-hand" smoke.

Indeed, the bans themselves are symptoms of a far more grievous threat; a
cancer that has been spreading for decades and has now metastasized
throughout the body politic, spreading even to the tiniest organs of local
government. This cancer is the only real hazard involved - the cancer of
unlimited government power.

The issue is not whether second-hand smoke is a real danger or a phantom
menace, as a study published recently in the British Medical Journal
indicates. The issue is: if it were harmful, what would be the proper
reaction? Should anti-tobacco activists satisfy themselves with educating
people about the potential danger and allowing them to make
their own decisions, or should they seize the power of government and force
people to make the "right" decision?

Supporters of local tobacco bans have made their choice. Rather than
attempting to protect people from an unwanted intrusion on their health, the
tobacco bans are the unwanted intrusion.

Loudly billed as measures that only affect "public places," they have
actually targeted private places: restaurants, bars, nightclubs, shops, and
offices - places whose owners are free to set anti-smoking rules or whose
customers are free to go elsewhere if they don't like the smoke. Some local
bans even harass smokers in places where their effect on others is obviously
negligible, such as outdoor public parks.

The decision to smoke, or to avoid "second-hand" smoke, is a question to be
answered by each individual based on his own values and his own assessment
of the risks. This is the same kind of decision free people make regarding
every aspect of their lives: how much to spend or invest, whom to befriend
or sleep with, whether to go to college or get a job, whether to get married
or divorced, and so on.

All of these decisions involve risks; some have demonstrably harmful
consequences; most are controversial and invite disapproval from the
neighbours. But the individual must be free to make these decisions. He must
be free, because his life belongs to him, not to his neighbours, and only
his
own judgment can guide him through it.

Yet when it comes to smoking, this freedom is under attack. Cigarette
smokers are a numerical minority, practicing a habit considered annoying and
unpleasant to the majority. So the majority has simply commandeered the
power of government and used it to dictate their behaviour.

That is why these bans are far more threatening than the prospect of
inhaling a few stray whiffs of tobacco while waiting for a table at your
favourite restaurant. The anti-tobacco crusaders point in exaggerated alarm
at those wisps of smoke while they unleash the systematic and unlimited
intrusion of government into our lives.

We do not elect officials to control and manipulate our behaviour.
They are in office to serve us, not visa versa.

Why does it have to be so complicated and so controversial?

We all agree that smoking is not good for you, that children should not start smoking, that second hand smoke may have harmful effects. However adult Americans should have a choice.

Here is a practical plan that would satisfy reasonable people:

The State sells permits that allow a restaurant to permit smoking. The State controls the number of permits sold at a number of maybe 10 or 15% of the number of restaurants in the State. The State sets minimum air quality standards and monitors it through the Board of Health that already monitors the food and cleanliness in the restaurants. Workers have a fair choice of where to work, 85% no smoking 15% smoking. Customers have a choice of where to eat. The State collects revenues and overseas the air quality. The business owner has a choice of having an air filtration system and allowing their smoking customers to eat and smoke in peace. Really not that complicated.

Sincerely,

Thomas Laprade
480 Rupert St.
Thunder Bay, Ont.
Ph. 807 3457258

I recently moved out of Austin because the city is changing for the worst. I have lived there for over 25 years, and the changes suck. COA is money hungry and thats all. In the last 15 years, they have ruined what Austin was known for and now they are working on destorying the rest of Austin. I wish the city counsel would just stop a minute and look at what they did and ask themselves, does it make sense? No.

Smoking Ban in place. Allowing Pets into food establishments.

Annexations started in 1995, 5 year plan to completion. 11 years later,still not completed. Still collecting all Tax money.

Theres more to Life than Money,

Hope to see all at EEyore's Birthday Bash April 29th.
come out and have fun, money raised is for charity. If you see this, come by the EMS tent and say hi to me, TheDuck!!