Kansas City’s recent approval of a tough smoke-free law for restaurants and bars already is having positive effects across the metropolitan area.
Unified Government Mayor Joe Reardon plans to introduce a similar ordinance affecting public places in Wyandotte County.
With passage in that county, smoke-free laws soon could be in place in the area’s six largest cities: Kansas City, Overland Park, Olathe, Independence, Lee’s Summit and Kansas City, Kan.
That would go a long way toward creating a level playing field for restaurants and bars that compete against each other.
Other cities also reportedly ready to consider smoke-free laws include Raytown, North Kansas City and Raymore. Raytown unfortunately remains one of the largest area cities that doesn’t protect customers and employees of eating and drinking establishments from smoking’s harmful effects.
The decision by Kansas City voters on April 8 also came at a key time for Lee’s Summit residents.
Just weeks ago, some City Council members were discussing a plan to allow customers to light up in some bars in Lee’s Summit.
That would have been an unneeded change in the voter-approved initiative of 2006. A few other council members spoke out against the change, as did a number of other citizens.
With passage of Kansas City’s new law, the promoters of changing the Lee’s Summit law backed off. That was a responsible move.
Other government leaders who have sat on the sidelines for too long need to start helping clear the air throughout the region.
Righty-o
"I'm sure Interface and all his metro friends will more than make up the business that will be lost when Grinch and myself take our money elsewhere."
Already started, baby! :-)
"It's a basic workplace
"It's a basic workplace safety law that provides cleaner air to those who work in those places."
Unless you work in a casino, then Interface doesn't care.
You better ban lawn service businesses next, those employees have to breath lawn mower fumes all day.
I'm sure Interface and all his metro friends will more than make up the business that will be lost when Grinch and myself take our money elsewhere. It's pretty simple supply and demand. I like to smoke when I have a cocktail, so I will spend my money where I can do that.
Sounds good. Strike one by
Sounds good. Strike one by Grinch against the mom and pops and those who work there.
It's a basic workplace safety law that provides cleaner air to those who work in those places. Get over yourself.
You win, Yael. I give up.
You win, Yael. I give up. You want to take away individual rights of people to open bars that would offer smokers the right to smoke a legal product in their establishment. You've done it in KC.
So, as a non-smoker whose father died painfully of emphysema, I quit defending those owners' rights. Instead, I am taking an oath to no longer go to any establishment whatsover, of any kind, that does not allow smoking. If it's my favorite restaurant in Overland Park, and smoking has been banned there, I will no longer eat there even given the fact that I don't smoke. That's my choice, since I don't like taking away the liberty of my fellow citizens to smoke in a private business that would otherwise allow it.
And no, I'm not joking. The money I save will go into much finer steaks than I usually eat, prime steaks, marbled with flavorful fat. Since I usually budget $60 a week for eating out, that will now free up around $3,000 a year for better food, which I'm quite capable of preparing at home. However, not all of that savings will be dedicated for that - a lot of it will go into gas money, since I can rely on folks like you driving the price up with varioud taxes and supply problems.