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"
.
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".
Monday, October 25, 2010
Monday, September 20, 2010
Campaign Kick-off
We are proud to announce we will be formally starting our campaign Saturday Sept. 25 at Antiques Any 204 N. Chadbourne. We think this location is of some signifcance in that the owner "THE" Betty Brown does not smoke, does not allow smoking in her shop but thinks that decision should reside with the business owner, not the government.
Participants are asked to refrain from smoking while in Brown's store, shouldn't be a problem, the event will be short. Please, if you still believe in freedom whether you smoke or not, come and show support for the rights of small business owners.
Participants are asked to refrain from smoking while in Brown's store, shouldn't be a problem, the event will be short. Please, if you still believe in freedom whether you smoke or not, come and show support for the rights of small business owners.
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Smoke-Nanny Ordinance
Now that Mayor New's proposal for a Council counter-proposal has been shot down, we are looking at the original language, all 12 pages of it, that 4500 people signed.
In one way, the Snafu on the language (which yours truly first caught) and the reprint of correct language twice officially and once by the Standard-Times, in print that did not require a magnifying glass, has been to the benefit of our campaign against the smoke nannies. The more people who actually read the WHOLE thing, the more "no" votes we get. I have heard from many signators, something like, "I didn't know all that crap was in it".
My opinion, and I've done a campaign or 8, the more voters know about this proposal, the less they will like it. It is more strict than Austin, and if Austin ain't liberal enough for you, what can I say, move to California. Just keep in mind, 200,000 Californians are moving to Texas each MONTH!
Something pointed out to me in yesterday's Council meeting by a management-level police officer: There is a study, published in a peer-reviewed journal (Journal of Public Economics) by Scott Adams of Univ. of Wisconsin and Chad Cotti of Univ. of South Carolina. They reviewed several American cities which had imposed city wide smoking bans, including bars, El Paso one of them.
They found that in smoke-ban cities including bars, DWIs, alcohol related crashes and injuries, and even fatalities had significantly risen. Not that hard a thought. If the smoking drinker cannot smoke at the local beer-joint, he will travel to where he can. Instead of creeping safely home 5-10 blocks at low speed from the neighborhood bar, he is coming in from 10-15 miles out of town at highway rate of speed.
Folks, if I were determined to avoid second hand smoke, however dangerous it might be, all I need do is avoid places that allow smoking, a distinct and growing minority of businesses, nearly all adult only. Smoker, Non-Smoker, how can you avoid the drunk coming home. Unlike the business with its "smoking allowed" sign, they are most unlikely to post a sign on the vehicle, legible at night advising you, "Give me lots of room, I'm CROCKED"!
In one way, the Snafu on the language (which yours truly first caught) and the reprint of correct language twice officially and once by the Standard-Times, in print that did not require a magnifying glass, has been to the benefit of our campaign against the smoke nannies. The more people who actually read the WHOLE thing, the more "no" votes we get. I have heard from many signators, something like, "I didn't know all that crap was in it".
My opinion, and I've done a campaign or 8, the more voters know about this proposal, the less they will like it. It is more strict than Austin, and if Austin ain't liberal enough for you, what can I say, move to California. Just keep in mind, 200,000 Californians are moving to Texas each MONTH!
Something pointed out to me in yesterday's Council meeting by a management-level police officer: There is a study, published in a peer-reviewed journal (Journal of Public Economics) by Scott Adams of Univ. of Wisconsin and Chad Cotti of Univ. of South Carolina. They reviewed several American cities which had imposed city wide smoking bans, including bars, El Paso one of them.
They found that in smoke-ban cities including bars, DWIs, alcohol related crashes and injuries, and even fatalities had significantly risen. Not that hard a thought. If the smoking drinker cannot smoke at the local beer-joint, he will travel to where he can. Instead of creeping safely home 5-10 blocks at low speed from the neighborhood bar, he is coming in from 10-15 miles out of town at highway rate of speed.
Folks, if I were determined to avoid second hand smoke, however dangerous it might be, all I need do is avoid places that allow smoking, a distinct and growing minority of businesses, nearly all adult only. Smoker, Non-Smoker, how can you avoid the drunk coming home. Unlike the business with its "smoking allowed" sign, they are most unlikely to post a sign on the vehicle, legible at night advising you, "Give me lots of room, I'm CROCKED"!
Monday, June 28, 2010
Volunteers
We are up and running and looking for volunteers and donations to help get the message out and defeat the current smoking petition.
We are distributing volunteer cards to businesses around town. We left some at Saddle Bronc, Fast Eddies, Holguins Precision Automotive, Lone Wolf, Giz &Hums, and we are distributing them as we have time and resources.
Thanks for any help you can give.
We are distributing volunteer cards to businesses around town. We left some at Saddle Bronc, Fast Eddies, Holguins Precision Automotive, Lone Wolf, Giz &Hums, and we are distributing them as we have time and resources.
Thanks for any help you can give.
Thursday, June 24, 2010
The Start
We have been following the progress of the Smoking Ban Petition from the beginning, and think it is time to get organized on this issue. We recently formed a SPAC (Specific purpose Political Action Committee) to help organize those opposed to the petition as it stands and the direction we see it going.
We encourage all of you out there that feel the same way to join us in our efforts to bring about the defeat of what is currently before us today and develop a fair, balanced local solution for tomorrow.
You can contact us here and on Facebook. You can also mail donations to
Speak Out San Angelo
1510 Bryan
San Angelo, TX 76903
We are looking for volunteers and will be distributing sign up sheets and more information as it becomes available.
We encourage all of you out there that feel the same way to join us in our efforts to bring about the defeat of what is currently before us today and develop a fair, balanced local solution for tomorrow.
You can contact us here and on Facebook. You can also mail donations to
Speak Out San Angelo
1510 Bryan
San Angelo, TX 76903
We are looking for volunteers and will be distributing sign up sheets and more information as it becomes available.
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