What People are Saying

Tell the public what you think about Question 3. Send a letter to the Editor.
Here is what other people are saying.

Leaning toward "No" on the smoking ban
By Barb Shelly, Kansas City Star Editorial Board

Kansas City's proposed smoking ban is a tough topic for me. Both sides have compelling arguments.

For awhile, I thought about voting "yes," to gain access to a smoky neighborhood hangout that supposedly has good food. My husband and I, nonsmokers both, walked through the door one evening and were instantly repelled by the screen of cigarette fumes.

But as the April 8 vote draws near, my desire to purify the atmosphere of the local pub is giving way to my upbringing. Many nights I sat at the dinner table listening to dad bemoan the many government regulations that created headaches and hassle at his moving-and-storage franchise. Probably because of that, I sympathize with the argument that governments shouldn't be able to tell businesses they can't allow a legal activity that many customers obviously enjoy.

I do think the public should be protected from secondhand smoke. Restrictions in workplaces? Absolutely.

But the thing is, rarely does anyone have to enter a restaurant or bar. Our health isn't threatened as long as we stay away.

Employees, of course, are the exception. But there's a lot of restaurants out there. Some of them are voluntarily smokefree, and many of them hire fairly frequently. So even in the workforce, there are choices.

Smoking ban supporters point out that we all pay for the damage of tobacco smoke through our health care. True. But smoking remains legal. If we're really worried about the costs to society, we should ban it, or tax it to high heavens, instead of selectively telling businesses they must prevent it.

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Support Small Businesses
"Question 3 hurts small businesses and cuts jobs. We have a reasonable smoking law that treats all businesses equally. Putting small businesses at a disadvantage to big casinos is unfair and it is bad for our economy. Please support small businesses by voting No on Question 3."
– Bill Nigro, President, Kansas City Business Rights Coalition

Question 3 hurts jobs
“Question 3 hurts small businesses and cuts jobs. We have a reasonable smoking law that treats all businesses equally. Putting small businesses at a disadvantage to big casinos is unfair and it is bad for our economy. Please support small businesses by voting No on Question 3.”
– Vic Allred, Owner: “Jazz, A Louisiana Kitchen”

We have a law that works!
“We already have a smoking law in Kansas City that creates a level playing field. Question 3 hurts small businesses and helps big casinos. Vote no on Question 3”
– Councilman Ed Ford

Question 3 would hurt KC economy
"Banning smoking in any private establishment strikes me as oppressive and unnecessary. When you ban smoking in small businesses but not in large casinos, you can add ‘unfair’ as well. Throw in ‘unwise’ economically, given that there are bars just across the state line where smokers will surely go."
–Jack Cashill

Be fair to small businesses
“Bar owners, not the government, should have the right to decide to allow smoking in their businesses. This issue comes down to choice. An owner should be able to choose what kind of business they want to run, employees can choose where they want to work, and patrons can choose where they want to go. Question 3 takes away that choice.”
– Kim Moffitt, Co-Owner, Twin City Tavern

It’s about freedom
“I’ve seen too many people sacrifice too much to take our freedoms lightly. That’s why I’m voting against Question 3. Bar owners should be able to choose if they want to allow smoking or not and adults should be able to decide where they want to go. Generations of Americans have fought for freedom. Let’s not give it away”
– Charlie Cauthon, 101st Airborne U.S. Army, Vietnam War Veteran

Say no to special interests
“Putting small businesses at a disadvantage to big casinos is bad for the economy – and quite frankly, it’s un-American. I have worked hard to build my business, and it’s not fair to hurt my livelihood in favor of some special interests. Laws should treat people equally. Question 3 does not.”
- Leslie McClendon, Owner, Lafferty's Lounge

Protect the right to choose
“Smoking is an adult choice. There should be some appropriate places in public away from children where people should be allowed to smoke. Bars owners should be able to make their own choice on, whether they want to allow smoking or not.”
– Calvin Shelby, Owner, Epicurean Restaurant and Lounge,
Member, Black Chamber of Commerce of Greater Kansas City

Smokers should have choices, too
“Question 3 destroys an adult’s rights to decide on what kind of bar they want to go to. It also destroys a bar owner’s right to run his or her business as they see fit. There should be some reasonable places in public where people can still go to smoke. Why do we want to hurt small business, the economy, and take away adult choice?”
–Mary Lou Smith, Former Jackson County Legislator, Smoker

 

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