Here is the link to an article from STLToday.com about the Ritz in Clayton receiving a ticket for allowing cigar smoking at the annual Cigar Club formal party Saturday night.
It was Clayton's first citation issued since their law went into effect last July. I guess we'll find out on February 16th (court date for the citation) what will come of this. I wonder if there were any 'influential' people at the event? Also, it sounds like an anti-smoking activist was there waiting to call as soon as they lit up. That's kind of creepy.
Anyway, what are your thoughts on the story? Do you think they were made an example out of because the high profile of the party and the press the citation would receive?
-Joe
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Well, that is one way to make me fired up in the morning. Nice catch on this Joe. I will be looking to see what happens on February 16.
ReplyDeleteI agree, it looks as if the activist was staking out the Ritz to see if anyone was going to violate the "law". Luckily I don't pay any taxes in St. Louis County or City so my money doesn't go to support this "law".
Looks like your (and my) money did indeed have something to do with this law, Matt. $500,000 of our money, to be exact.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.stltoday.com/news/local/metro/article_769e9b78-6b72-544a-9422-c689fc69cd63.html
Another log on my rage inferno.
Adam
This fiasco is the work of a lobbyist (Pat Lindsey) attempting to justify the shit ton of money she got (and wasted) from the Federal Government.
ReplyDeleteAdam
I can't seem to let this one go. All of the bullshit details of this ridiculous situation aside, why did the hotel get issued the citation? You mean to say that if I own/operate a business in an area where smoking is illegal, and someone comes into my place and lights up (breaks the law), I will be issued a citation for this person's "crime"? I would hate to think of what my reaction would be in this situation.
ReplyDeleteAdam
If you allow people to smoke in your place of business, and you do not have an exemption issued by the city or county (maybe in Clayton you need one from them too, not sure) you will be issued a citation. If someone lights up in your place of business and you ask that person to put out their stogie/cigarette, and then they do, you won't be issued a citation. If they refuse, you are supposed to call the autorities on them and they will deal with the patron.
ReplyDeleteEither way, it's crap. I went out and voted against the county/city ban last year, but it failed miserably. Not sure that people realize, as you said Adam, that this law is telling business owners what they can and cannot do in their place of business with a product that is not illegal. The kicker is that the county granted exemptions to the gambling casino floors and restaurants whose food sales were 25% or less of their total sales.
In other words, this law is ridiculous. The playing field is not fair to all business and yes, the feds did grant money to be spent on the anti-smoking campaign of that creepy lady.
I hope they leave guys like Harold alone.
-Joe
Adam, thank you for pointing that link out. Now I am boiling. Good Lord, this is just too much to comprehend. Really, a grant for $500,000.00. How in the world does that seem like a good idea?
ReplyDeleteI just don't understand these anti-smoking arguments. If you don't like an environment, leave. Nobody is forcing you to go to an establishment that allows smoking. You have the choice to leave. God gave us free will to choose. The bill of rights gave us the choice. Why won't they listen to our opinion?
Jill, that's crazy talk. A woman having "rights"...
ReplyDeleteI got dibs on Joe's cigars & humidor.
Adam
At least us occs members will have each other. And that smell that you describe as a "turd", THAT is the smell of victory.
ReplyDelete