Posted 8:14 am Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Jan. 30: Mr. or Ms. Busybody
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Carol Woodruff has voiced my thoughts exactly, and I believe she is correct. It is a person's choice as to where they go and what they do. To know an establishment allows smoking and still go inside is a choice.
The person who owns that business sacrificed time, money, and energy to open it. However, here comes Mr. or Ms. Busybody, with nothing better to do than campaign to have this private property business owner to change his operations to accommodate their peeves.
Do they help him pay the mortgage or rent? No. Do they come in and help out when some of the employees are out sick? No. Do they even help keep the parking lot clean? No. But they campaign to change his way of doing business, for what? Are there not similar businesses offering the same service or food that are smoke-free? Of course there are.
There have been many people post here who say this ban won't hurt business, but none of them have been business owners. Think about that. Where do these statistics come from that are constantly thrown in our faces?
How many smokers are on the task force or Tyler council who will be deciding the smoking issue? How many business owners are going to be allowed to throw in a few votes?
These folks banned smoking in our Arkansas town, and it did have an impact on business and tax revenue. We now have several empty buildings where businesses once were open.
Restaurant owners watch customers drive past them on their way outside of town to the new eating establishments that allow smoking. Several, in an attempt to bring back these customers, built outdoor patios for their smoking customers. It didn't work, as another clause stated no smoking within 25 feet of the business.
B. Fason
Jacksonville, Ark.
B. Fason
Jacksonville, Ark.
