Fort Worth is considering an ordinance that would ban smoking in:
• Restaurants
• Bars
• Billiard Halls
• Bingo Parlors
• Bowling Centers
• Business/Office Buildings
• Service Lines, including those that extend out the doors of non-smoking facilities
• Within 20 feet of any entrance or openable window of a non-smoking facility
While providing exemptions for:
• Retail tobacco stores unless they open into a mall or another non-smoking venue.
• Outside dining patios, except portions within 20 feet of facility’s main entrance.
• Sexually-oriented adult entertainment businesses.
Feel free to read up on it here: http://www.fortworthgov.org/publichealth/info/default.aspx?id=35310
The city is holding public meetings over the next month and is also looking to hear from interested parties via email at smokingordinance@fortworthgov.org
I would invite any of you who have, will, or might be smoking in this area to take the time to drop a quick note to the City of Fort Worth staff at the above address.
I composed and sent the following email this morning:
• Restaurants
• Bars
• Billiard Halls
• Bingo Parlors
• Bowling Centers
• Business/Office Buildings
• Service Lines, including those that extend out the doors of non-smoking facilities
• Within 20 feet of any entrance or openable window of a non-smoking facility
While providing exemptions for:
• Retail tobacco stores unless they open into a mall or another non-smoking venue.
• Outside dining patios, except portions within 20 feet of facility’s main entrance.
• Sexually-oriented adult entertainment businesses.
Feel free to read up on it here: http://www.fortworthgov.org/publichealth/info/default.aspx?id=35310
The city is holding public meetings over the next month and is also looking to hear from interested parties via email at smokingordinance@fortworthgov.org
I would invite any of you who have, will, or might be smoking in this area to take the time to drop a quick note to the City of Fort Worth staff at the above address.
I composed and sent the following email this morning:
To Whom It May Concern:
I am writing to voice my opposition to the proposed Fort Worth smoking ban. I personally do not smoke cigarettes nor do I particularly care for the way they smell; I do, however, smoke an occasional cigar at a bar or restaurant whose owner has decided to allow such activity. I feel, as do many I know, that the proposed smoking ban is ill advised, could have great negative economic effect, and is an unnecessary erosion of personal choice and economic freedom. If a restaurant owner chooses to allow smoking in his or her establishment, why is that any of the government's business? This smoking ban takes away that owner's economic liberty, his ability to choose what occurs in his or her own place and its impact on his or her financial success (or failure in the case of establishments who currently cater to smokers but may be forced to close their doors should such a ban take effect).
One of the things that makes this country great is personal choice: I have the choice--as does everyone else--whether to walk into a bar or restaurant that allows smoking. I did not vote for anyone to make that choice for me (or the business owner) nor will I ever vote again for someone who does or did attempt to make such a choice. I have always thought of Fort Worth as a wonderful place, full of free spirits, the place where the West begins. I am sad to say that, should this proposed ban be approved, then that image that Fort Worth has fought so hard and for so long to earn and maintain will be lost. And what is next? Smoking in one's car? One's house? Or how about a ban on trans-fats? This is Fort Worth. Not New York. Not Los Angeles.
Roger Williams, our current Secretary of State, has a great motto: "Let's Do Business." Well, let's do business. Let's allow business owners to make up their own minds about how to run their businesses and let's allow consumers to make up their own minds about what businesses they choose to patronize.
Respectfully,
Croatan