Phone: 573.777.1950
Boone Liberty Coalition
web: http://booneliberty.org
10900 S Hardwick Ln
email: info@booneliberty.org
Columbia, MO 65201
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: John Schultz 999-2088
BOONE LIBERTY COALITION DENOUNCES CELEBRATION OF SMOKING BAN
Columbia, MO – January 8, 2008 – The Boone Liberty Coalition (BLC) feels it is inappropriate for CASE1 and SAFE2 to celebrate the one-year anniversary of the smoking ban by holding a live concert at the Blue Note the evening of Wednesday, January 9th. The ban has not produced any noticeable health benefits for the City while creating many hardships:
• the closure of locally-owned businesses • lost jobs, wages and benefits (including healthcare) • business owners who have lost their life savings and homes • a decrease in city revenues • created needless discord when more pressing matters such as increased crime should have received greater attention
• the destruction of property rights
“Given the devastation the smoking ban has caused for selected members of our community, we feel it is inappropriate to celebrate,” said Greg Rennier, Chairman of the BLC. “CASE and SAFE need to step back and own up to the problems they have caused with this smoking ban.
Likewise, some City Council members and the Mayor need to take responsibility for their actions. They ignored our evidence that predicted these problems. They chose a politically-correct option based on dubious evidence while ignoring their sworn obligation to protect property rights. They basically decided with their vote that it was ok to force the closure of certain businesses they personally did not like, approve of or patronize. This is especially troublesome given there is no hard evidence of any appreciable health benefits.”
“I also find it ironic that CASE and SAFE chose to hold their ‘celebration’ at the Blue Note,” noted Rennier. “The Blue Note was already hosting smoke-free events before the ban went into effect based on customers’ requests. This proved our point that there were already ample smoke-free options in Columbia.”
Rather than celebrate this divisive, un-necessary and un-American ordinance, the BLC urges CASE, SAFE and select City Council members to mourn those who have lost so much and to adopt a true clean-air policy rather than punish and discriminate against business owners who chose to run their business in ways they personally do not like.
1 Campus-Community Alliances for Smoke-Free Environments – http://www.casemo.org 2 Smoke-Free Air for Everyone
