Repeal the Ban - Press Release.docBoone Liberty Coalition
Phone: 573.777.1950
10900 S Hardwick Ln
web: http://booneliberty.org
Columbia, MO 65201
email: info@booneliberty.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: John Dupuy 573.777.1950 info@booneliberty.org
BOONE LIBERTY COALITION URGES THE CITY COUNCIL TO REPEAL THE SMOKING BAN IN FAVOR OF SIGNAGE
Columbia, MO – December 19, 2007 – The Boone Liberty Coalition (BLC) has formally asked the Columbia City Council to repeal the smoking ban.
“With nearly a year to judge its impact, we’ve seen how this ordinance has been a disaster for the city,” said Greg Rennier, Chairman of the BLC. “We need to stop the hemorrhaging. We have asked the City Council to consider the mounting evidence against the smoking ban and make a common sense decision. Rather than divide the community, we feel a repeal would create a diverse environment that puts out the welcome mat for all citizens and visitors.”
The BLC has advised the City Council to adopt a plan once under consideration in St. Louis called the ‘Gregali bill’. Under this plan, a business would have to clearly designate itself as smoke-free, smoke-restricted or smoking with a sign at the front door.
The BLC bases this request on several factors:
• recent and future business closures • economic data showing a 5% decline in Columbia’s dining-tax revenue due to the
smoking ban
• revenue shortfalls of $60,000 and a possible reduction of city services • the loss of jobs for working-class citizens • growing acceptance that the health impacts of secondhand smoke are minimal at
best and were based on faulty, discredited & misleading studies
• most businesses will decide to remain smoke free
"For some bars and restaurants the impact of the smoking ban was huge,” said BLC spokesman John Dupuy. “Some gained, some lost, and some didn't change much. However, the 'fear of upsetting customers' that kept many restaurants from going smoke free voluntarily is now gone. Before the ban, 65% of restaurants were smoke free already. In talking to restaurant owners, we believe that even if you lifted the ban today, many would stay smoke free. We suspect only about 5% to 10% would allow smoking again. The few places that would allow smoking are those that appealed to smoking customers.” Greg Rennier, Ph.D. Boone Liberty Coalition 10900 S Hardwick Ln Columbia, MO 65201
December 17, 2007
To: Columbia City Council
We implore the Columbia City Council to repeal the smoking ban and institute a new, fairer policy that will serve the needs of all Columbia citizens and business owners.
Why do we ask for such action?
• the smoking ban has contributed substantially to the closure of several prominent,
locally-owned establishments and one of these business owners has speculated that five more downtown businesses will soon suffer a similar fate because of the smoking ban
• a recent article by a nationally-prominent economist with the Federal Reserve
Bank of St. Louis has preliminarily confirmed a 5% decline in Columbia’s dining- tax revenue due to the smoking ban leading to a revenue shortfall of $60,000 and a possible reduction of city services
• these closures and business losses translate into lost jobs for working-class citizens • there is a growing awareness that the previously-accepted health impacts of
secondhand smoke are minimal at best and were based on faulty, discredited & misleading studies
What do we propose instead of the smoking ban? We ask the City Council to adopt a plan which is fair and inclusive while supporting freedom, choice and the property rights of business owners.
We suggest that the city move towards a plan that was once under consideration in St. Louis called the ‘Gregali bill’. Under this plan, a business would have to clearly designate itself as smoke-free, smoke-restricted or smoking with a sign at the front door.
Most businesses will decide to stay smoke free. However, this frees up some establishments to cater to needs of every citizen. It is fair, inclusive and does not require government intervention.
We urge you to return choice back to the people!
Sincerely,
Greg Rennier, Ph.D. Chair, Boone Liberty Coalition
http://booneliberty.org
info@booneliberty.org 573.777.1950
