The Texas Rangers are headed for their first World Series, got there by outplaying overpaid talent.
I know it sounds strange, but let me stretch the metaphor: Speak Out San Angelo has opposed the Smoke Free Initiative from jump street. Smoke Free wants to redefine privately owned busineses as "public places". City Hall is a public place; the Library is a public place, hospitals etc. are public places, and I would not dream of firing up a cig there. Any time tax dollars get involved, a place is "public"
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Our Speak Out group has been out spent about 4 to one. We don't have Austin-based foundations flinging $10k at us. Speak Out represents local businesses, local patrons, and local employees who CHOOSE a smoking environment. We fully support the right of people to live a smoke-free life; just walk by the sign that says "We Allow Smoking Here".
Kick this can down the road. Council will revisit our ordinance and amend it. Even Smoke Free admits they went too far, but under I&R it's "all or none".
At least they aren't getting their money's worth. They've sent me two card, and called once. I voted no on Monday.
ReplyDeleteOf course, the card is misleading. I wonder if we can sue for that? It says: "... breathe sec ondhand [SIC] smoke inside public places.
Think we got a case??
San Angelo is slowly being dragged into the twentieth century and the old will nots don’t like it.
ReplyDeleteA round of sour grapes y’all
~:)
The anti-smoking ordinance will become effective in about one month. The city council has previously passed an ordinance preventing city council from masking changes to the anti-smoking ordinance for six months past that date.
ReplyDeleteAnon 6:51. Not quite correct. Needs 4 council members to bring it to discussion is all. Put in place after the last dog ordinances. A previous city council can't bind a future council to prevent them from doing what councils do. That has to be done in the city charter, which I&R isn't. All it takes is 2 meetings and a majority of votes.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the correction. What are the legal requirements necessary for council to change the intent and function of an ordinance passed by registered voters?
ReplyDeletePolitical pressure is also a factor, I was surprised by the approval margin and voter turn out.
I have always felt we needed a better voter turnout in local elections. I am an independent who votes for the candidate rather than the party. In a few years we will have a new generation of voters who are generally better educated and more informed than present day voters. Democracy works only when we have active voters and elected officials from both sides of the political fence.
Technically, it's like any other ordinance. It will be enacted just like any regular ordinance, and can be changed like any other ordinance. It might not be a good move politically, as 4 council seats (2, 4, 6, and the Mayor) are up for election in May.
ReplyDeleteWill be interesting to see what happens between now and election day.