If the Harrison Square Park Project funding is not enough to fill the City Council meeting, if the increase in property tax is not enough to fill the room, if the firefighters wanting to define their own destiny, well surely the smokers will do the trick at Tuesday's City Council Meeting.
"The bigger the crowd at Tuesday night's City Council meeting, the better the chance the city's smoking ban will be amended or repealed. At least that's what local bar owners and sympathizers said Monday afternoon.
“I'd expect 2,000 to 3,000 people,” said Mikeal Vaughn, a representative with the Indiana Niteclub Association, who hopes to overwhelm council with numbers.
The push marks the latest effort by bar owners, smokers and some nonsmokers to amend the city's ban on smoking in enclosed public places - including restaurants and bars. One possibility floated by bar owners would be to exempt establishments admitting only people 21 and older.
Since the ban took effect June 1, bar owners contend they've seen profits fall drastically, and some have had to close their doors. Jeff Briley, owner of Bogey's Bar and Grill, 1567 W. Dupont Road, said he paid $1,000 less in sales tax to the government in June compared to last year because of the ordinance. He estimates that equates to about $15,000 that didn't go into his cash registers.
“I've heard people say ‘Smokers don't vote.' Well, we're going to turn that fact into a myth,” Briley said.
Vaughn said if council isn't receptive to their appeal, he will host a meeting Wednesday night at Piere's, 5629 St. Joe Road, to endorse candidates for November's election.
“If they don't do something soon, we'll tell them what to do in November,” said Jon Bartels, vice chair of the Libertarian Party of Allen County and a candidate for the City Council 2nd District seat.
The smoking ban, at least as of Monday afternoon, wasn't on the agenda for Tuesday night's City Council meeting." from the News-Sentinel.
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