Elgin Update
Restaurants should NOT be fair game!
Smoking is still a refined pleasure and should not be limited to gambling and drinking venues. I have been forced into very rare situations that have required me to dine with Anti-smokers. I have never seen people eat so fast and enjoy themselves so little. Thirty minutes, even to consume crab legs, is sufficient for them. They have no concept of the experience fine dining can provide. Luckily, I insist up driving my own car in these cases and excuse myself to the bar area as soon as possible for a cigarette, coffee, etc. Obligations to boring company end upon payment of the dinner check. By the way, I would never include gracious non-smokers in the same category as Antis.
Children do not have to be allowed in every adult dining spot. Let's start banning children and Antis from fine dining restaurants instead. Let the family restaurants entertain families. Many dining spots cater to real adults and are not "Chucky Cheese". Leave the smokers an opportunity to enjoy and appreciate fine dining. Obviously, tobacco control believes every dining experience should be treated as a joyless gluttony exercise in speed eating. Tobacco Control representatives must be very uncreative and joyless people to associate with socially. Those who do not know how to relax and enjoy a meal should stick to the food joints that specialize in policies of "herd them in and drive them out!"
"The casino is an adult venue," Schock said. "People make the choice to go to the casino. In the bars, there are no minors allowed. ...
....."But with restaurants, we all have to eat, so restaurants are fair game."
September 1, 2006
Amanda Marrazzo Elgin officials said this week that they are considering an ordinance that would restrict smoking in restaurants, bars, bowling alleys and VFW halls. Among the opposition to the idea at Wednesday's special City Council meeting were restaurant owners and employees, and casino officials. Elgin's current ordinance prohibits smoking in a few public places, such as municipal buildings, movie theaters and schools. Opponents said a ban would hurt all who make a living in the bar and restaurant business. "Do not be bullied; your choice is not all or nothing," said Stephen Riedl, executive director of the Illinois Licensed Beverage Association. "Respect diversity. Be reasonable. It would be illogical for a government to ban a product allowed by the U.S. surgeon general." He said people who work in the hospitality industry make a choice to do so and those who enter establishments where smoking is allowed also make a choice. A ban could cause "businesses to close and people to lose their jobs," Riedl said. Representatives from the American Lung Association, American Cancer Society and Smoke-Free Elgin, and physicians from St. Joseph and Sherman Hospitals are calling for a citywide ban. Kathy Drea, director of public policy for the American Lung Association of Illinois, said a comprehensive ordinance would benefit the community, including bar and restaurant employees, who have the "highest exposure" to second-hand smoke. "Second-hand smoke is a public health threat, not a nuisance," Drea said. "There are no safe exceptions." Drea said ventilation systems merely make the air look and smell better, they do not remove the cancer-causing carcinogens. She also said a smoke-free Elgin would improve business, not hurt it. Paul Kuehnert, director of prevention for the Kane County Health Department, said officials are prepared to assist with the tools to follow through on a smoke-free ordinance. "Over the years we have made tremendous progress in decreasing voluntary smoking," he said. "Now fewer than 20 percent of adults in Kane County smoke." Mark Hemmerle, assistant general manager of Grand Victoria Casino, said a smoke-free Elgin would significantly decrease revenue generated by the casino, some of which is used to fund city projects. "We ask that you exclude the casino in a comprehensive smoking ban," he said. After the meeting, Mayor Ed Schock said he believes establishments such as bars and the casino should be exempt. "The casino is an adult venue," Schock said. "People make the choice to go to the casino. In the bars, there are no minors allowed. ... "But with restaurants, we all have to eat, so restaurants are fair game." Read
Smoking ban exceptions urged
• Opponents speak: Elgin City Council hears pros and cons at public hearing 08/31/06
By Nathaniel Zimmer, STAFF WRITER ELGIN — About 65 people gathered Wednesday to weigh in on a proposal to further restrict smoking here, with residents, business owners, doctors and representatives of social clubs and anti-smoking groups among the 20 or so speakers. Sentiment on the city council has appeared to be leaning in favor of more limitations on smoking, but members have discussed excepting some businesses, including bars and the Grand Victoria Casino, a major source of tax revenue for Elgin. Mark Hemmerle, assistant general manager of the Grand Victoria, said the casino wants to be exempted from any ban on smoking in public places. He said Delaware casinos experienced a 21 percent decline in revenue in the year after the state banned smoking in the casinos in late 2002. A study in the anti-smoking journal Tobacco Control argues the law did not affect casino revenues. However, a paper by an economist at the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis found that the ban resulted in a decline in revenue due to customers taking their business to other casinos outside the state. The Grand Vic last year provided the city with about $26 million in taxes and other revenue. Some oppose exceptions Several representatives of anti-smoking groups said they were against exceptions to a ban on smoking in public places. Mayor Ed Schock has spoken in favor of exempting bars and the casino, which he has pointed out has an expensive ventilation system. Kathy Drea, public policy director of the American Lung Association's Illinois chapter, said ventilation systems can remove smoke and the smell of smoke but not cancer-causing carcinogens. Paul Kuehnert, director of prevention with the Kane County Health Department, said much the same thing. Other groups asked for exceptions. Frank Podzimek, the administrator for the Elgin Moose Lodge, said a ban on smoking would mean a decline in revenue for his lodge and less money for charity. "If we don't take it in, we can't give it out," he said. Bob Balsamo of American Legion Post 57 called the idea of a ban "ridiculous." Nonsmokers are a minority among the legion's members, he said, and bingo players could go to games in East Dundee or South Elgin where smoking is allowed. "Are we going to ban foie gras?" he asked, as Chicago recently did. "Are we going to ban alcohol?" Smoke called 'a poison' But David Riggs, regional vice president of the American Cancer Society, called secondhand smoke "a poison that makes people sick." Shawn Hurley of Elgin, who has pushed for a ban, said 800 city residents have signed a petition favoring a ban. Lorrie Vargas, owner of the Great American Family Diner, said restricting smoking would hurt her business since most of her customers smoke. Others claimed studies have shown smoking bans have little impact on bars and restaurants. The city already prohibits smoking in public places, with a list of exceptions that includes bars, restaurants with fewer than 40 seats, bowling alleys, tobacco retailers, hotel and motel rooms and private clubs. Restaurants with more than 40 seats must have a nonsmoking section covering at least 50 percent of their total area in order to permit smoking. Smoking also is prohibited in all areas within "places of employment," except for private offices occupied exclusively by smokers, and cafeterias, lounges, lobbies and other such areas that have nonsmoking sections covering at least 50 percent of their area or seating. Read
Smoking ban gets support in Elgin
08/18/06
By Nathaniel Zimmer
ELGIN — Supporters of implementing a smoking ban here would seem to have the city council on their side.
Of the six members on the seven-member council reached this week, five said they were favorably disposed to some type of measure and one was on the fence.
The reaction represents a sharp reversal from two years ago, when the city's board of health voted to recommend that the council implement smoking restrictions, but members shied away from the idea, saying it could harm businesses or that they simply hadn't considered the possibility.
What has changed since then, members said, is that other municipalities, including Chicago, have passed bans, and a group of suburbs recently proposed a regional ban as a way to limit the migration of smokers from one community's businesses to another's. Arlington Heights, Hoffman Estates, Palatine, Rolling Meadows and Schaumburg put forward an ordinance that would prohibit smoking in all public places, bars and restaurants included.
In Elgin, most council members would seem to prefer that the city try to enact a regional ban with its immediate neighbors.
But so far they are not talking about a measure as all-inclusive as the one proposed by Arlington Heights and company.
Ban exceptions suggested
Several council members discussed continuing to allow smoking in bars and in the Grand Victoria Casino, which last year provided the city with roughly $26 million in taxes and other revenues.
A public hearing to allow residents to voice their opinions about a ban has been scheduled at 6 p.m. Aug. 30 in the city council chambers.
Councilman David Kaptain said he favors a ban that would affect restaurants but thinks bars may deserve an exception so long as they don't allow children on the premises. While supporters of bans have in many cases made much of the impact that secondhand smoke has on restaurant or bar employees, Kaptain said he believes people are free to choose where they work. Similarly, he said he could support allowing smoking in the gambling section of the casino.
"I think you have free-thinking people and they can make that judgment for themselves," said Kaptain, who quit smoking two decades ago.
Mayor Ed Schock said much the same, stating that "exceptions are almost inevitable." Drinking and smoking go hand-in-hand, and bars do not contain children, he said.
"These are all adults capable of making their own decisions," said Schock, another former smoker who quit some 30 years ago.
As for the casino, whose representatives did not return phone calls Thursday, "They have invested millions in very sophisticated air exchange systems," he said.
'Win-win situation'
Councilman John Walters said he would prefer a regional approach but that if the choice were between a ban in Elgin alone or none at all, he still might support the measure.
"Not being a smoker myself and never having been one, I do like the idea," he said. "I think people are starting to take to heart the issues about secondary smoke."
Walters referred to what he called "the myth that you'll lose money if you go smokeless."
Councilman Thomas Sandor, a one-time smoker, was generally favorable toward the idea of a ban, although he said exceptions for private, members-only clubs and the casino would make sense.
He said he hoped the debate in Elgin will not focus too much on the precise health effects of smoking or secondhand smoke, the dangers of which he said he believes are well-established.
Councilwoman Brenda Rodgers said a ban has the potential to be a "win-win situation" for both businesses and patrons, although she added she was "waiting to hear the presentation and the discussions of both sides next Wednesday."
In contrast to his colleagues, Councilman Juan Figueroa sounded notably wary when asked for his opinion.
"I'm not sure at this time what my position will be," he said. "We really need to make sure we get enough input from the community ... I'm sure that's going to have a financial impact on some businesses."
Opposition to loopholes
Should the city move to implement a ban with exceptions, officials could find themselves fighting supporters of a stricter measure.
Shawn Hurley, a 34-year-old software developer who has been drumming up support for a ban, said he objects to creating loopholes for certain businesses.
Speaking about bar employees, he said, "People should not have to choose between their health and a paycheck."
What's more, Hurley said he doesn't think the city needs to wait for other communities to limit smoking.
"My main goal right now is to get Elgin to go smoke-free," he said. Read
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