Terrebonne Parish Update
Just an example, the State Troopers were checking insurance and licenses the other day. when I stopped to show them my license and insurance card I jokingly said "I didn't do it." The officer said "If I said you did it, it would be your word against mine". My point, if they stop someone from smoking in "public", near an enterance, and they complain, the officer will be able to write them up for anything they want, and it will be their word against ours.
Like I said, ya'll are making law abiding citizens into criminals.
July 30, 2006
I am writing concerning the lock they are planning on putting in the Houma Navagational Canal. I do not feel that this will benefit the whole parish. I feel they are putting it where it will only benefit the City of Houma itself and not the low lying areas that flood.
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No smoking: It’s now off limits at many local spot
January 12, 2006
JEREMY SHAPIRO
HOUMA -- Starting as early as today, smokers will not be allowed to light up in many public places in Terrebonne Parish, including some restaurants.
The Parish Council voted 6-2 Wednesday to enact a law that bans smoking in two dozen categories of public places. The law also will prohibit smoking within 10 feet of the entrance or exit of a public place.
Anyone who violates the law could be found guilty of a misdemeanor and be fined up to $100 per offense. Houma Police and the Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s Office are in charge of writing tickets.
The smoking ban takes effect when Parish President Don Schwab signs the ordinance, which he said he plans to do today.
The decision delighted about 100 people who packed the council chambers to lobby for the smoking restrictions. Prior to the vote, 18 people told the council the ban is needed because of health concerns. Many said numerous studies have shown secondhand smoke can be deadly. Several speakers had family members who had died or gotten sick from diseases that are often associated with smoking.
In comparison, only two business owners spoke against the smoking ban. The number of speakers at several meetings on the issue and the number of pro-smoking-ban phone calls could have been the deciding factor for council members who hadn’t made up their minds earlier on the issue. Council members Harold Lapeyre, Pete Lambert, Alvin Tillman and Christa Duplantis indicated public opinion, to some extent, played a role in their decisions.
Here’s how the voting went:
For the ban: Lapyere, Lambert, Duplantis, Tillman, Teri Cavalier, Wayne Thibodeaux.
Against: Kim Elfert, Peter Rhodes.
Abstain: Clayton Voisin.
Rhodes has said all along he was concerned restricting smoking would infringe upon the rights of business owners. Elfert said she voted no in part because she doesn’t think the law can or will be enforced. Voisin was advised by Parish Attorney Courtney Alcock not to vote because he had some ownership interest in food-and-beverage establishments that may be financially impacted by the ban.
WHERE YOU CAN’T SMOKE
The law lists 24 indoor places where smoking is now prohibited, including restaurants that don’t have liquor licenses. This includes many chain breakfast and buffet restaurants, such as IHOP and Shoney’s, as well as a handful of locally owned restaurants. You will also no longer be able to smoke at the Waffle House or at Ryan’s Family Steak House.
The other places where smoking is now banned are public-transportation facilities, bus waiting areas, public restrooms, retail stores, business establishments, libraries, museums, galleries, theaters, concert halls, auditoriums, convention halls, sports arenas, public-meeting areas, health-care facilities, schools, community colleges, elevators, waiting areas, all parish buildings, polling places, malls, licensed child-care facilities and licensed adult-care facilities.
In addition, smoking will not be allowed within 10 feet of the doors of any public place. That means if you want to smoke outside the Government Tower, The Courier, Burger King or any other places the public can enter, you need to move at least 10 feet away from the building.
Also, smoking will not be allowed in places of employment, even if the public is not permitted there. Examples are employee lounges, meeting rooms or common work areas. The ban extends to hallways, restrooms and stairwells as well. The exception is private, enclosed offices occupied exclusively by smokers.
In Louisiana, local governments cannot ban smoking in restaurants or bars that serve alcohol or in motel rooms, casinos, tobacco shops, private homes and privately enclosed offices. The private businesses or individuals involved can, however, choose whether they want to allow smoking inside.
Local governments are free to ban smoking in any other public venue. Ten Louisiana municipalities have already done so, said Vanessa Wilson, Region 3 coordinator for the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Living.
The 18 pro-smoking-ban speakers made a number of different arguments regarding why the ban was critical.
PROPONENTS MAKE CASE
Rochanne George, health-initiatives representative with the local chapter of the American Cancer Society, said research has shown businesses forced to be smoke-free do not lose money because of it.
Houma resident Gerald Adkins said when it comes to research, most studies can be contradicted with another study.
"Except in this case, where all the studies lead to one conclusion," he said. "Smoking is dangerous and it takes lives."
Montegut resident Terry Adams reminded the council this effort is not meant to tell people they can’t smoke. It’s just asking smokers not to light up in public places.
"It’s just asking they not smoke for an hour while people eat," she said.
Brad Welch, a displaced New Orleans resident temporarily living in Houma, told the council when it comes time to finding a permanent home, he would only choose a town that is smoke-free.
After listening to the speakers, Cavalier compared the situation to a vote earlier in the meeting for a new traffic light at Hollywood Road and Ninth Street. She said that decision was made because the intersection was dangerous and a stoplight could save a life. The same principle applies with the smoking ban, she said.
"The statistics have showed us smoking equates to death, smoking equates to breathing problems and smoking equates to allergies," she said.
BUSINESS OWNERS SPEAK
Although in the minority Wednesday, business owners Lois Breaux and Joe Pinero tried to convince the council that government was going too far in enacting the restrictions. Breaux presented the council with a petition of 182 names opposing the ban. Breaux said she enjoys smoking and as an adult she doesn’t think it’s appropriate for the government to tell her to stop smoking while she operates her own business.
Pinero said if people don’t want to be around smoke, they can go somewhere else. He said people have the choice not to frequent smoking establishments.
Nonetheless, the fact that only two business owners spoke was a sign to some council members that most businesses were OK with the ban. Tillman said he initially was worried businesses would get around the ban by signing up for liquor licenses. Now, he doesn’t think that will be a problem.
"If this was such a bad thing for businesses, where are they?" he said.
Duplantis said the lack of business owners’ complaints was significant, but she ultimately voted for the ban because she thinks it is the right thing to do.
Lapeyre and Duplantis said they both have reservations about the ordinance but voted for it nonetheless. Lapeyre said the reason he struggled with it was he wasn’t wild about criminalizing a legal activity.
"I have a problem with that," he said "But as an elected official I must vote with the people and the majority of the people want this."
Smoking-ban decision set for Wednesday
January 08. 2006 1:11AM
By JEREMY SHAPIRO
The Courier
HOUMA -- After a four-week layoff, the Terrebonne Parish Council will start the new year by discussing many unresolved issues from 2005.
Perhaps the most-significant issue on tap is a public hearing and likely vote Wednesday on a proposed law that would prohibit smoking in many public places in Terrebonne, including some restaurants.
Council members have expressed different perspectives when it comes to the question of whether it is government’s job to restrict smoking inside certain buildings. Councilman Wayne Thibodeaux and Councilwoman Teri Cavalier said secondhand smoke is enough of a public-safety hazard that the government has the right to intervene.
Councilmen Peter Rhodes, Harold Lapeyre and Clayton Voisin have concerns about telling businesses owners what can and can’t be done in their establishments. The difference of opinions means Wednesday’s vote probably won’t be unanimous. It could be a decided by a single vote.
The American Cancer Society and the Coalition for a Tobacco-Free Louisiana made some headway this summer for a parish smoking ban as part of a statewide push to encourage local governments to be smoke-free. Several communities last year enacted smoking restrictions.
Parish Attorney Courtney Alcock wrote a strict smoking measure that calls for banning cigarette fumes in two dozen places, including restaurants without liquor licenses, health-care facilities, retail stores, sports arenas and schools.
If the law is approved Wednesday, smoking restrictions also may apply outside numerous buildings. Smoking would be prohibited within 10 feet of the entrance or exit of any public place.
Anyone who violates the proposed smoking law could be guilty of a misdemeanor and be fined up to $100 per offense.
In Louisiana, smoking cannot be banned in restaurants or bars that serve alcohol, motel rooms, casinos, tobacco shops, private homes and privately enclosed offices.
A panel made revisions to Alcock’s initial draft last summer. They were presented to the full council in August, but council members postponed a decision to learn whether the smoking ordinance could be placed on the ballot. A Louisiana Attorney General’s opinion received in November said that was not allowed.
The public will have one last chance to weigh in at a public hearing, which begins at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday in the council meeting room on the second floor of the Government Tower, 8026 Main St., in Houma.
Plan for Terrebonne smoking ban put off, most likely until fall
August 24, 2005 A proposal to ban smoking in some Terrebonne restaurants and public places has been put off for the time being, but its supporters say the proposal could be ready for public debate sometime this fall. Some Parish Council members were prepared to introduce the no-smoking measure this week and schedule hearings about it over the next seven weeks. But one council member requested a state attorney general's opinion first on whether parish residents could vote on the proposed smoking ban. Paul Labat, council clerk, says that opinion is expected to be issued in three to four weeks. The American Cancer Society and the Coalition for a Tobacco-Free Louisiana are promoting the parish smoking ban as part of a statewide push to encourage local governments to be smoke-free. Several towns and one parish in the past three months have either enacted or passed smoking restrictions. Using other town laws as models, Parish Attorney Courtney Alcock wrote a strict smoking measure that calls for banning cigarette fumes in two dozen places, including restaurants without liquor licenses, health care facilities, retail stores, sports arenas and schools. State law prohibits local governments from banning smoking in restaurants or bars that serve alcohol, motel rooms, casinos, tobacco shops, private homes and private, enclosed offices. ----- Original Message -----
From: wayne thibodeaux
To: Roy & Lori Rowley
Sent: Thursday, August 11, 2005 10:37 AM
Subject: Re: Letter to the Editor I HAVE BEEN AND WILL CONTINUE TO READ ANY AND ALL RESEARCH DATA ON THE SUBJECT.
Wayne Thibodeaux, CCD Mr.Thibodeaux
Do you think that I was a witness for Mr. Larpenter
No I was not.The facts is he was set up to sell dope to undercover cops. If there was not any dope or gun.
I didn't know that until after it came out in the pape. I Did you know that Deedee, that works for Courier, knew the policemen that shot Mr.Diggs? I do not condone murder of any kind. I feel Mr. Diggs was set up for other reasons.
I was threatened by HPD for driving in a "bad neighbohood". There were no signs posting that. I was threatened that if my truck was seen on East Street I was going to be arrested. I don't do drugs and don't condone anyone who does. East St. is a short cut to my Mothers house on Roselawn ST. It's a public road. When I asked the officer what he was going to arrest me for, he said and I quote, "I'll think of something". So don't tell me that anyone caught smoking in a restricted area will not be harrassed by the officer. What about people coming in from out of town or out of State? If they don't know about it, will they get a ticket?
Do you condone slave days coming back? You are not going to be my master.
Have you read any of the research that says that second hand smoke is not as dangerous as the "paid" researches claim they are? Are you doing any research at all concerning this or are you only listening to what the anti-smokers are telling you. Madmaxmcgarrity.com is a good place to start. Or is your mind made up and not open to reading or listening to any information to the contrary. Why don't you ban cars, guns, alchohol, mac trucks, even food and water? If you are gonna ban smoking in public then you should take away the taxes the PUBLIC is paying. I'm sure you know the government makes more money than the tabacco compaies do??
Do you know of any officer that will give another officer a ticket? I see them all the time with no seat belt. Who is going to give them a ticket? But don't I dare to go without mine.
Roy Rowley
----- Original Message -----
From: wayne thibodeaux
To: Roy & Lori Rowley
Sent: Wednesday, August 10, 2005 7:28 AM
Subject: Re: Letter to the Editor I can do nothing about your president and his awful decisions concerning Iraq. I have a niece and nephew serving in this theater. I can do nothing about what people do in other countries! In Louisiana, less than one third of the people smoke. I can do something about second hand smoke in Terrebonne Parish. You indicated you saw Mr. Diggs get shot? Also, please get your facts straight. According to the Courier article on Mr. Diggs Murder, there was no "dope" found on Mr. Diggs. There was not even a weapon found on Mr. Diggs. Simply put, he was the victim of cold blooded murderers! Did you condone the killing?
Any smoking ban in Terrebonne will affect Policeman and Parish workers.
Wayne Thibodeaux, CCD Mr.Thibodeaux
One more thing. If you care about peoples health then care about them kids that are dying in Iraq for other peoples rights to be free. Care about their health. Why don't you write Mr.Bush and ask him to send them kids home.Why don't you ban kids going to war to fight for other people rights and freedom? Why don't you ban smoking in other countries?The smokers in this country are paying more than their fair share in taxes.
When I saw Mr. Diggs get shot by TPSO I'm thinking What if.
Mr Diggs was selling Dope' So by making smoking illegal its going to be about the same.
I noticed you didn't say much about a parish worker and Mr Policemen that smoke. Why?
----- Original Message -----
From: Roy & Lori Rowley
To: webreps@legis.state.la.us ; newswatch@foxnews.com ; news@wafb.com ; jeremy Shapiro ; kimberly.solet@houmatoday.com ; joe pinero ; wayne thibodeaux
Sent: Tuesday, August 09, 2005 8:16 PM
Subject: Re: Letter to the Editor Mr Thibodeaux
I don't think you care about people health' all some of you care about is the money the city is going to make from this ban the more money you get more you can waste' Maybe you guys need a new camp maybe a boat maybe somebody needs to go back to hawwii maybe a pay raise' what you think
How many time we will have to say we are not kids.
Did you read what I said.
Ask Mr.Larpenter about Mr Diggs in 2001
because I was there.
And you don't have to believe me. ----- Original Message -----
From: wayne thibodeaux
To: Roy & Lori Rowley
Cc: Paul Labat ; Suzette Thomas
Sent: Tuesday, August 09, 2005 9:10 AM
Subject: Re: Letter to the Editor I respectfully disagree. I do not think there will be any extreme measures taken by HPD or TPSO to violate anyone's civil rights. I believe this matter is strictly a public health issue whose time has come.
Wayne Thibodeaux, CCD ----- Original Message -----
From: Roy & Lori Rowley
To: joe pinero ; news@houmatoday.com
Sent: Monday, August 08, 2005 10:18 PM
Subject: Letter to the Editor Smoking ban dangerous I’m afraid that if this smoking ban passes the sheriffs office and city police will find any and all ways to give people a ticket. I feel that if a person “caught” smoking in a restricted area decides to disagree with the officer than it will subject them to being thrown to the ground and searched etc., etc., like a criminal. I have already witnessed excessive (deadly) force used by the police dept. If this ban passes smokers will be considered criminals and subjected to unnecessary force by the officers. Not to mention that if confronted by an officer, and the person throws their cigarette on the ground they will get a ticket for littering. My wife and I are law abiding citizens. We are not children. We don’t like being treated like a child or like a criminal. My next concern is, knowing that a lot of the officers and government employees smoke. Who will give them a ticket? Just like them being exempt from the seat belt laws and the noise ordinance. This is not a smokers’ rights issue. It’s a people’s rights issue.
Smoking ban mostly about punishment The smoking ban certainty is a politically correct thing to do, but is it the correct thing? Maybe secondhand smoke is harmful to one’s health. Maybe the Parish Council has the authority to pass such a law, but is it the right thing to do? Think about it. When I was young and serving my country to protect our freedoms, I didn’t feel like I was defending politicians’ rights to take away these types of freedoms. Ban smoking in a park? Do you think smoking in a park is any more harmful than a big diesel truck belching black smoke going down the road? This law is more about punishing smokers than concern about people’s heath. I for one will remember who votes for this and do my best to get them from being re-elected. And by the way, I am a nonsmoker. Charles C. Blake
Houma
Many secondhand items are problems
Regarding the proposed smoking ban in Terrebonne Parish, I feel that all aspects of "secondhand" anything should be considered in this proposed law. Do not limit it to secondhand cigarette smoke. The following also could be included in this law: Secondhand language citizens are forced to listen to in all public and private areas in the parish. Secondhand music citizens are forced to listen to in mall parking lots, grocery store parking lots, parks, playgrounds, the streets of Terrebonne Parish, the street you live on. Secondhand pollution from parish road construction, asphalt paving and, most important of all, the annual burning of sugar-cane fields. Secondhand pollution from drug users. Can any of the cigarette-ban proponents distinguish the aroma of a fine cigar from that of the fine smell of many of illegal drugs that are on our streets today? These are just a few. I am sure other citizens of our parish have their own "secondhand" bans they would like to see enforced. Our law-enforcement officers are overworked attempting to quell serious crime in our parish. Instead of their responding to a murder on our Main Street or Martin Luther King Boulevard, let’s pass a law that requires them to respond and arrest everyone reported smoking in an illegal area. I do smoke cigarettes. I have been approached on many occasions by a concerned citizen who has informed me that "cigarettes will kill me." My response is … "Do you have information from God that I haven’t received yet?" Nancy Collier
Houma
(Note: After you read this article, please make up your own notes saying thank you for allowing smoking and bring them with you to leave at restaurants.)
Anti-smoking proposal lacks common sense July 26. 2005
Lack of common sense has come to Terrebonne Parish. Under the proposed clean-air ordinance written by some meddling attorney, if someone smokes an evil cigarette they risk a $100 fine. Oh, boy; they’re gonna save us from ourselves.
My wife and I stopped smoking eight years ago. We feel better. Stopping smoking was good. There is no denying that fact. The thing is, we wanted to stop smoking; we were not made criminals if we didn’t. That is what the ordinance will do if it passes, make criminals of people exercising their right as a free American to use a legal substance. It is legal, but if you involve yourself in it you would be fined. What about the second offense of smoking? Six months in jail? The third offense, five years in Angola? It boggles the mind.
Cars are destructive things, and people inside them die by the thousands every year. Where is the group to ban cars? Oh, yeah, I forgot about Al Gore. Gas is used to make these vehicles run, we need to look into banning that. Oh, yeah, I forgot, Gore is there, too.
Alcoholic beverages kill people by the thousands. They make people mean and make people do bad things. Where are the blogs supporting an alcohol-free nation? Oh, I forgot, it’s been done already by Carrie Nation.
Food consumption is the reason for … oh, I forgot, the food police are already upon us.
We have become a nation that seeks to make it a crime to participate in lawful activities. To me it all boils down to one thing. Looking out for out health and welfare? No, I think not. It all boils down to all the revenue the parish can collect for the crime of participating in something legal. I have also come to the conclusion that the government, instead of "governing," has become a tool for lack of common sense.
Jerry Bolton
Houma
Communism at work in Terrebonne Parish
July 09. 2005 Citizens for Good Government has been monitoring the Terrebonne Parish Council, especially Councilwoman Terri Cavalier, on the issue of banning smoking in Terrebonne Parish. First of all let’s make one thing perfectly clear, Citizens for Good Government does not condone or recommend the use of tobacco products to anyone. This councilwoman is walking a very thin line by advocating that government pass laws and impose fines on individual rights afforded to them by the Constitution of the United States and all of its amendments. This rookie councilwoman has taken it upon herself to dictate to the citizens of Terrebonne Parish what freedoms and liberties in the Constitution that she is going to allow them to enjoy. If the council passes any ordinance to enforce smoking bans or regulate the rights of businesses to impose their own rules of smoking in their establishments on private property, or on public property outside of government buildings, by charging them with a crime and imposing fines on individuals or business owners, we have no choice but to fight this with all of the resources available to us. When a "do-good" politician starts imposing her personal lifestyle on the citizens of our parish and creates laws that she personally feels should be imposed on the people in our communities, we feel that it is time to express our views in a public form. Anyone who walks into a restaurant and waits two hours so they can be seated in the non-smoking section is already 50 cents short of a dollar, and in our opinion, is not qualified to propose lifestyle changes to everyone else in Terrebonne Parish or to rewrite the Constitution of the United States of America. In 1981, the voters in Terrebonne Parish were uninformed of the election that was held to consolidate the great city of Houma and the residents of Terrebonne Parish. With a small margin of citizens voting, the issue was passed in Terrebonne Parish by only 15 votes. The question now is how long are the people in Terrebonne Parish outside the city limits of Houma going to put up with these stupid antics by stupid politicians? The people in Terrebonne Parish have got to stand up and tell these politicians enough is enough. Caution: Road lighting and recreation districts are next to be "stolen" from you. Joe Pinero
President, Citizens for Good Government
Houma
Parish Council takes trips; others lose jobs
How can the Terrebonne Parish Council afford to go to Hawaii but can not afford to send kids to a summer camp along with saying that the parish is in a big budget cut right now? They cut 18 firefighters and still today we get threats about more cuts. Parish Administrator Barry Blackwell said that the cuts were just as even with the Police Department, but we’ve yet to see it. The parish administrator has been cutting everyone under the sun, and now they do some crazy stuff like this. They even want a raise. Well, we want our fire department positions back, but that will not happen. I guess the parish officials will take another trip at our expense. Lanny Brunet
Houma
April 27. 2005 3:13PM
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