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June 13, 2008Rendell Signs Statewide Smoking Ban
The bill will also allow smoking in nursing homes (it's ageist!), on sections of casino floors and in private clubs. Oh, and you can still smoke in your own home, but you all know they're coming after you next. Update: Also in Pennsylvania news, a woman who claims Michael Jordan fathered her child (he didn't) has been barred from contacting him again. Posted by D-Mac at 12:36 PM | Comments (9) August 07, 2007Punk Kids Ruining Bars Now, Too
But since it is now illegal to smoke in bars, a much more sinister pollutant has wafted into our city's restaurants. I'm speaking, of course, of children. Yes, lots of parents now bring their kids to good old fashioned bar/restaurants -- the ever popular gastro-pub -- instead of going to Denny's. And while this means business is up, it also means there are punk kids in Standard Tap, Monk's and probably even Dirty Frank's. Okay, probably not Dirty Frank's. And the kids are, apparently, not just annoying punk kids. They're super-smart kids, perhaps from Baby's Day Out or that creepy movie where the babies become geniuses (Baby Geniuses?). The co-owner of the Standard Tap says it's like, European, man: "In Europe, bars are part of the community, and we are, first and foremost, a community place. And I'm impressed with kids who come to our place. They order food with autonomy and knowledge. There are a lot of pretty sophisticated kids in the area." And, as usual, the Philly.com comments sum up my reaction nicely: It's also a very European thing to leave your children in hotel rooms so their parents go out drinking with other couples when everyone is on 'holiday'. That ended great for that kid Madeline. See? Slippery slope. First our children are hanging out in bars, then who knows what happens next? Smoking ban brings more kids to dinner [Inquirer] Posted by D-Mac at 11:18 AM | Comments (11) | TrackBack (0) June 26, 2007Warning: This Post Contains Strong Language
The bill's exemptions are for restaurants where food makes up less than 25 percent of sales, cigar bars (probably the most sensible exemption), a quarter of casino floor areas and, of course, "charitable fund-raisers where cigars are sold." This was quite a reasonable debate, of course, with the head of the ACS in Pennsylvania saying legislators were murdering thousands of people while legislators decided to come out against the bill with strong words. Sen. Jim Ferlo, D-Allegheny, called the exemptions “disgusting gobbledygook,” and Sen. Anthony Williams, D-Philadelphia, said the changes were like “a pig in lipstick” being billed as a beauty queen. Yes, that'll show 'em. Senate acts to curb Phila. smoking ban [Inquirer] Posted by D-Mac at 03:57 PM | Comments (4) | TrackBack (0) June 15, 2007People Actually Think Pa. Smoking Ban Will Pass
The bill, sponsored by Montgomery County's Sen. Stewart Greenleaf, would currently ban smoking in any workplace and public space in Pennsylvania. Never fear, smokers! Hordes of lobbyists have descended on Harrisburg and are all hoping to make sure you can smoke in cigar shops and casinos and wherever else the tobacco companies want you to. Twenty-seven other states have a ban of some sort, while the biggest hang-up so far in Pennsylvania appears to be... well, what else? “There are amendments flying every which way and the biggest debate is over the casinos,” said Sen. Wayne Fontana, D-Allegheny. Can that be the casinos new motto? "The casino! Lose all your money and die." A statewide ban? [AP/Metro] Posted by D-Mac at 12:56 PM | Comments (20) | TrackBack (0) May 18, 2007This Is Sure To Improve Morale Among Inquirer, Daily News Employees
Effective immediately, Philadelphia Newspapers LLC will be enforcing the new no-smoking ban adopted by the City of Philadelphia, which requires no smoking for up to 20 feet of a workplace entrance. Violators of this no-smoking ban are subject to fines by the City of Philadelphia ranging from $25.00-$300.00. Oh, I don't know, Tierney. You don't mess with Stu Bykofsky. You're lucky he's probably still on a high from seeing Babar or whoever leave the Philadelphia Zoo. [Original photo by Brad Maule, Phillyskyline] Posted by D-Mac at 03:10 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0) April 11, 2007Well, They Blew Up The Chicken Man In Philly Last Night. Now, Okay, No, They Didn't.
Although smoking is permitted on gambling floors in Jersey -- although Atlantic City Council recently passed a local ordinance restricting smoking to just one-quarter of the gambling spaces -- it's not allowed in restaurants and other non-gambling casino areas. The only problem with Jacobs' assertion, though, is that it happened to be not true at all. In actuality, zero casinos have been fined for violating the smoking ban! Jacobs says he "told the truth" and he told an aide to direct the AC Health Dept. to issue the citations and it didn't follow through. Of course: But Ronald Cash, director of the Atlantic City Health Department, insisted his staff had never heard from anyone from Jacobs' office about fining casinos. "We have not gotten any calls about fining the casinos," Cash said. "When we get a complaint, we respond to them. At this point, we have not had enough evidence to produce citations against anybody." Who will win this bureaucratic showdown? The Health Comissioner or the AC Health Department! I don't know, but I bet it will take a lot of paperwork to find a winner. Smoking ban celebrated, but casinos draw activists' notice [Camden Courier-Post] Posted by D-Mac at 12:42 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0) January 11, 2007Banner Day For Smoking Ban
The Daily News' Mark McDonald reports that 16 different bars were cited Tuesday, with 23 inspectors visiting 586 bars and restaurants. And, of course, here's what you're looking for: The list of bars cited.
So, hey, here's a bunch of bars you can smoke in. Sweet! Smoking ban gets teeth as city tickets 16 pubs [Daily News] Posted by D-Mac at 10:24 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0) January 09, 2007Half Hour Left To Legally Cough In Bars
The original ban went into effect on Sept. 15, pretty much immediately after John Street signed it, after approximately a 200-year battle to enact one. Nobody really enforced anything, though, and everyone continued to smoke inside bars on Christian Street or wherever. Then, in December, council passed an even more confusing smoking ban that upped the percentage of food restaurants could sell to remain smoke-free to 20 percent but banned smoking outside in outdoor cafes. That law repealed the old smoking ban but goes into effect today, just in time for temperatures to drop into the 40s! The Inky's Kerkstra interviews a few bartenders, including Flip Hassell, who is opposed to the smoking ban. "It's part of being a bartender. There's drinking, there's smoking, you have to throw guys out. It's part of the job." Just wait until the throw-guys-out ban gets passed later this year. Smoking ban back - for real this time [Inquirer] Posted by D-Mac at 11:27 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0) December 29, 2006Keystone Cops: Dead Man Walking
Keystone Cops is a look at police, crime, court, drug and public safety news. • Saddam Hussein will be dead by this time tomorrow. [AP/Yahoo!] • A man, quite possibly a Barbaro hater, stole a collection can with $200 from a 7-Eleven in Buxco . The money was supposed to go to a group that rehabilitates sick horses. Actual quote: "It's hard enough to steal from anybody but to steal from a charity... the poor defenseless animals can't even speak for themselves." [CBS 3] • Atlantic City Council is expected to vote today on a smoking ban for the island's casinos that would blah blah blah you know how this works already. No more smoking in casinos. [AP/6 ABC] • And, from the crime log of the Doylestown Intelligencer: "At 9:37 a.m. Sunday, police received a call from Northampton police who asked them to go to a house on the 2000 block of Jason Drive to question a man about his 2001 Chevy S-10 pickup. No one was home." [Intelligencer] Posted by D-Mac at 12:50 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0) December 15, 2006Smoking Ban Repealed (For Three Weeks)
Mayor Street signed a bill that effectively repealed the ban until Jan. 8, because... yeah, no idea. (If I had to guess, I'd say it has something to do with Michael Nutter. Or this city being run by people only slightly more competent than the leaders of Burma.) But I guess, since we've all been smoking outside of Locust Bar for about four months, it's time for a three-week break! Most restaurants are planning on enforcing the ban during the three-week break, and the city is encouraging them to, but you know that certain bars had the ashtrays out right after Johnny lifted his pen off the bill. The exemptions for "neighborhood taverns" and the ban on smoking at sidewalk cafes, where smoking is much more dangerous than inside a small corner tavern, also go into effect on Jan. 8. Until then, though, smoking is legal inside! Get your last comfortable puffs of smoke now, before it's mid-January and you're smoking a cigarette in 20-degree weather, cursing Michael Nutter's name with every breath. Philadelphia Smoking Ban Lifted for 3 Weeks [6 ABC] Posted by D-Mac at 10:45 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0) December 01, 2006City Council: Smoking Inside Good, Smoking Outside Bad
The vote, which passed 15-2, does two things:
Mayor Street wanted that second one, saying that the exemption for sidewalk cafes troubled him, so it seems likely he'll sign the bill. Of course, if he signs the bill, that means smoking outside at restaurants will be illegal, but smoking inside could be legal. Unless, I suppose, the neighborhood tavern has a sidewalk cafe! Pretty soon the law will be amended to say that smoking inside is okay if the bar makes less than 40 percent of its revenue from food and has no less than three (3) moose heads on the walls and sells $2 Molsons during Flyers games. Smoking at sidewalk cafes will be okay if the drinks served come with little umbrellas and the restaurant's name contains more than 3 vowels but less than 7. City Smoking Ban Exemption Overwhelmingly Approved [NBC 10] Posted by D-Mac at 11:50 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0) October 03, 2006Smoking Ban To Be Repealed! (Until January!)
But of course. We're just over one (1) week into the ban and already it's being changed. Isn't it great? Basically, more "neighborhood taverns" will be allowed to apply for the exemption and the smoking ban's start date will be pushed back until Jan. 8 of next year. There may be a snag, though: John Street: “I will make phone calls and I will urge Councilmembers to support the bill.” Oh. Looks like it's not getting passed, then. More Changes to Phila.'s Smoking Ban [KYW 1060] Posted by D-Mac at 01:32 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack (0) September 28, 2006I Read Phillyblog So You Don't Have To: Smoking Ban
For this week's second installment of I Read Phillyblog So You Don't Have To, it's going to be an all smoking ban edition! (If you really enjoyed The Press Releases I Get In My Inbox -- and, really, who didn't enjoy that earth-shattering event -- I just moved it to Friday, in honor of it being an info dump, and Friday not ever having anything going on.) After the jump, an attempt to parse just what PB is thinking about the smoking ban. (I didn't even include the photos people were posting of George Burns, Einstein and FDR smoking to prove that smoking is great.) There'll also be a non-smoking ban related Thread! Of! The! Week! Continue reading "I Read Phillyblog So You Don't Have To: Smoking Ban" Posted by D-Mac at 02:18 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0) September 26, 2006The Smoking Ban Is Dead/Long Live The Smoking Ban
Okay, probably not. (I'm still sure we Philadelphians stuff our faces with enough pizza and cheesesteaks to make up for any gains from not smoking.) But while Philadelphia is now "officially" smoke-free, owners of local bars and restaurants are a little confused. You see, the city rolled out the smoking ban at the flick of a Mayor Street wrist, and didn't even notify anyone except the media about it. As The Illadelph points out, New Jersey has a website with tons of smoke ban info. And, of course, it also had a 90-day period where it notified businesses that they had to be smoke free by tax day. Bars in Philly? Eh, the owners in Philly are a little confused, and Michael Nutter (who else) is on the offensive: "It's unfair to citizens and employers to have this sudden announcement out of nowhere that the ban will be immediately enforced," Nutter said. "I think this is a warped, vindictive attempt to create more confusion, more consternation about the smoking ban." Could Street be trying to sabotage the smoking ban so everyone wants it repealed in a few months (i.e. so Nutter can't take credit for it)? Oh, man. I think I'd trade a little lung cancer for that kind of hilarity. Hastening of smoke ban spells confusion [Daily News] Posted by D-Mac at 02:00 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0) September 25, 2006Leftovers: Crying Green (And Red) Tears• Green Party gubernatorial candidate Carl Romanelli -- whose attempt to get on the ballot was bankrolled by Republicans -- has been thrown off the ballot by a state judge for failing to have the correct number of signatures. He's not going away, though. Romanelli is planning to fight for his right for a third-place finish until 2010, at least. [AP/Philly.com] • Media fight: It's Jay Glazer versus Les Bowen! Glazer says, "Jevon Kearse's career is over! The sky is falling!" and Bowen retorts with, "That exclusive Fox story yesterday about the severity of Jevon Kearse's left-knee injury contained some details that hadn't been disclosed previously, but the overall conclusion that the injury was worse than reported was not entirely true." Snappy comeback! [Fox Sports, Inky via NBC 10 Eagles Blog] • Next Pennsylvania stop for the smoking ban lobby? None other than Pittsburgh, which is considering it. Sigh. Pretty soon all of Pennsylvania won't be able to breathe noxious fumes in the steel plant or coal mine (yes, yes) all day and then breathe noxious fumes in the bar all night. [Inky Fishbowl] • Pennsylvania's gambling board is going to take time out from being arrested to approve the casinos planned for Pennsylvania's racetracks later this week. The towns with tracks are pumped. Says Bensalem's William McCauley: "We know who's going to be on the property. We're not going to end up with... another mall or a shopping center-slash-housing development." Because, really, a housing development is so much more destructive than a casino! [AP/Courier Post] • The turnpike service plazas are getting more bathrooms! Hooray! [AP/Philly.com] Posted by D-Mac at 04:00 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0) Haze Slowing Clearing From City's Dive Bars
Yes, the once-legendary smoking ban goes into effect today as declared by City Arbiter of Health John Street. The fines go from a robust $25 for a first offense up to the cost of a nice bike in the mid 1990s ($300). KYW 1060, though, has the real dangers of the now-in-effect ban on lighting up in bars: Other bartenders in the Center city area say they are concerned about patrons who go out for a smoke and start trouble. Yes, if this smoking ban is going to do anything, it's going to lead to the first fights ever in the history of Philadelphia bars. Smoking Ban Goes Into Effect Today [KYW 1060] Posted by D-Mac at 09:26 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0) September 19, 2006Leftovers: First They Came For The Marlboro Men, And I Did Not Speak Out Because I Was Not A Marlboro Man...
• The Inquirer's Marc Narducci asks if Eagles fans are overrated because he saw a few people leaving the game early Sunday. As a commenter pointed out, the Eagles certainly left the game before any of their fans did. And who the hell is Marc Narducci (or anyone, really) able to judge who is a "true" fan or not? That being said, Eagles fans did get way too many votes in the most recent AP poll. [Eye on the Eagles] • Your three new City Councilpeople come November, ladies and gentlemen: Carol Campbell, William Greenlee and Daniel Savage. How many people saw that list and said, "Wait. The writer of Savage Love is running for City Council?" [AP/Philly.com] • Terrell Owens is now "likely" to rejoin the Dallas Cowboys for their Oct. 8 game at the Linc. ARAMARK breathes sigh of relief, buys 50 billion kegs of Bud Light in advance of game. [AP/Yahoo!] • And now for the latest edition of Northeast-Philadelphian-In-Space: The shuttle Atlantis has had its return delayed due to a piece of debris that may have floated out of the craft. They're likely to return Thursday or Friday now, upon which Chris Ferguson will get a celebratory shopping spree at Franklin Mills. [AP/CNN.com] Posted by D-Mac at 04:19 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0) September 14, 2006Leftovers: Puff, Puff, Pass• As you probably know, Mayor Street has signed the smoking ban, but enforcement won't go into effect until an agreed-upon date. Street's suggestion? Sure to be sometime after the mayoral election. [KYW 1060] • The forum for residents to discuss issues regarding casinos was last night, and, uh, it's official: Residents hate casinos. Huzzah! [Philly IMC] • Segway, Inc., is recalling both of the scooters sold since the company's inception, due to problems that could make a rider fall off. It's okay, even with the upgraded software, President Bush still would have fallen off. [AP/PhillyBurbs.com] • Keith Primeau has retired from the National Hockey League due to a series of concussions. You may remember him from his game-winner in the fifth overtime against the Penguins back in 2000. Or, rather, you may remember hearing about that, since you were probably asleep during it. [Inquirer] Posted by D-Mac at 04:03 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0) T-Minus 0 Days Until... GUH?
Aw. We were kind of banking on this being a political issue in Philadelphia for the next 40 years or so. Alas. Mayor Signs Smoking Ban [NBC 10] Posted by D-Mac at 10:34 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0) September 13, 2006T-Minus 1 Day 'Til Street Doesn't Sign Smoking Ban
Oh, yes, folks. It is only one day until John Street does not sign the smoking ban, and things are starting to heat up in City Council as well. Michael Currie Schaffer's story in today's Inquirer is a great, depressing look at how politics works in this country. Michael Nutter even comes out to ask the simple question of why does his resignation from council mean the bill should be vetoed? Councilman Darrell Clarke says, well, he wouldn't have voted for it if he knew Nutter was going to resign to run for mayor. He doesn't say why, of course, but take a few guesses. Street is still against smoking in outdoor cafes, probably the only sensible exemption to a smoking ban if one should be passed. And he says he still hasn't decided if he's going to veto the bill, but he does say there will be a ban by the end of his administration. Councilman Brian O'Neill, who voted against the bill, essentially declares himself sick of it all and says he hopes the mayor signs the bill: "If he vetoes it, no matter how they try to spin it, he's sticking it to Nutter," Councilman Brian J. O'Neill said. Indeed! There's, really, only one way to save the smoking ban now: Right before Street goes to veto the bill (and do a celebratory crotch-chop) afterward, Michael Nutter's music plays. The mayor hopeful dashes in, hits Street in the head with a steel chair and signs the bill himself. Yeah, that'd do. Smoking ban rears its head again [Inquirer] Posted by D-Mac at 01:23 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0) September 11, 2006T-Minus 3 Days 'Til Street Doesn't Sign Smoking Ban
Street's opposition to the bill, I think, is due to his strict libertarianism and his wish that all restaurant owners should be able to decide their own policies as to whether you can enjoy a legal product in their establishment. Wait, or is it because he's pissed that outdoor cafes are exempt? Or is it because the bill's sponsor, Michael Nutter, has left council to run for mayor, and that somehow means that the legislation is dead? Oh, wait, it's because John Street doesn't want Michael Nutter to take credit for it, and what better way to do so than by vetoing the legislation! He doesn't say this, of course, but it's pretty easy to see and even easier to infer in news articles. But: Wouldn't it be great if John Street just came out and said that? "Yeah, I'm vetoing the bill because I don't want Michael Nutter to be able to take credit for it during the mayoral race." It'd be the first instance of honesty in Philadelphia politics in the city's history. And it'd be totally awesome. John Street totally needs to do this. I think everyone can agree a little bit of smelly clothes is well worth the absolute hilarity of Street being actually honest about this. It's your move, Johnny. You have three days. Will Phila.'s Proposed Smoking Ban Go Down in Flames? [KYW 1060] Posted by D-Mac at 02:49 PM | Comments (3) | TrackBack (0) September 08, 2006T-Minus 6 Days 'Til Street Doesn't Sign Smoking BanIn keeping with our theme of blinding you with these posts, we present:
We're getting closer and closer! Posted by D-Mac at 01:25 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0) September 07, 2006T-Minus 7 Days 'Til Street Doesn't Sign Smoking Ban
Oh, you know we're sticking with the glittery Myspace graphics, if only to make our own eyes bleed. Archives: Smoking Ban Posted by D-Mac at 04:30 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0) September 06, 2006T-Minus 8 Days 'Til Street Doesn't Sign Smoking BanAnd what better way to celebrate the occasion than with a glittery, Myspace-esque graphic:
Previously: T-Minus 9 Days 'Til Street Doesn't Sign The Smoking Ban Posted by D-Mac at 04:39 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0) September 05, 2006T-Minus 9 Days 'Til Street Doesn't Sign The Smoking Ban
Of course, Street is against the bill because he Michael Nutter spearheaded the legislation, and John Street wants to take Chaka Fattah's congressional seat after a successful mayoral bid by the Fattah. But Nutter is running for mayor, too. (At least that's the word on the street.) Street's "official" reason for being against the bill is that it allows people to smoke in outdoor cafes, which, of course, are the most dangerous of all places to smoke. Anyway, let's count down the days until Mayor Street doesn't sign the bill! What wacky reasons will the mayor come up with next for not signing it? Will he win Republican admirers by not signing the bill? Will tobacco company executives parade him around the country for his move? Only time will tell! 9 days and counting. Street Not Saying if He'll Sign Smoking Ban [KYW 1060] Posted by D-Mac at 11:52 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0) |
