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Posted by: Brandy On: 11/15/2008

Comment Title: This is SOOOOO Germany!
I thought I woke up in Germany a few days ago when I first heard this story. Maybe next we'll all have to wear patches on our clothing so all will know we are smokers! Or maybe we'll have separate drinking fountains and restrooms from non-smokers. I don't know how I would be classified. For my entire pregnancy, I was a non-smoker. I don't smoke around my children. I don't think anyone should smoke around kids. But I made a choice, and I went to the bar a few times with my husband because he wanted a beer. I wasn't smoking or drinking, and he's not a smoker, but we know that if you go to a bar, there will be smoke. I don't think banning smoking in restaurants is a bad idea because you are putting innocent children at risk. It's not like they can make the decision to leave if it bothers them. Their parents have to make that choice, and I don't think they should have to pick a different restaurant because they don't want their kids at risk. But bars are only for people 21 and up. These "adults" can make their own decisions. They can choose to stay if they don't like ANY aspect of a bar or they can leave. See, the biggest problem is that non-smokers want smoker outside. that's all fine and dandy for restaurants. If you're waiting for your table you can go outside and have a smoke while you wait. You're not doing anything anyway. Go outside and have a smoke! Here's where the problem is. When you're at a bar, you can't just take your beer outside and have a cig. This would require bars to install outside patios! Unfortunately that would force the city to overturn the decision they made about Northgate. You can't take beer out on the "back porches" of Northgate, and you also can't listen to the music because of the sound ordinance. So if you're a smoker, you won't get the same privileges as a non-smoker. Now. Let's talk about what is and isn't fair.......

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Posted by: On: 11/10/2008

Comment Title: IT'S SIMPLE
If I do not like the food at a restaurant, I choose another. If I find the service lacking, I choose another. If the music is too loud or annoying, I choose another. If the smoke bothers me, I choose another. I do not need the government to protect me from someone else's bad habits in a restaurant. To the mayor - PLEASE HIRE ANTOHER POLICE OFFICER AND GET THE DRUNK DRIVERS OFF OUR ROADS. Worry about something a bit more dangerous that I cannot avoid on my own.

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Posted by: On: 11/9/2008

Comment Title:
Once upon a time Brazos County was dry. To get hard liquor you had to drive across the river which was the closest county line. However, there were several restaurants and bars in Bryan which served liquor. These were private businesses which required membership and the member had to furnish a bottle of whatever he/she wanted to drink. Replenish the bottle when it ran out. Now, I suppose some businesses could become private and require a membership fee to enter the premises thereby getting around the ban. Any attorneys out there got any ideas? Can membership to a private club be a solution for some businesses?

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Posted by: Susan College Station On: 11/9/2008

Comment Title:
College Station has the right Idea. This will help keep the Drug addicted Bryan Trash out of Our clean and progressive city. If they do come into the city we will have PC for a traffic stop and chance to run ID'S. A sure way to arrest a Bryan resident with a warrant.

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Posted by: On: 11/9/2008

Comment Title: Information for Meme
You recently posted that you will not change until you ``see something in black and white that proves 2nd hand-smoke is harmful`` Then please read any one of these: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/secondhandsmoke.html http://www.health.state.ok.us/program/tobac/facts.pdf http://healthlink.mcw.edu/article/1031002601.html

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Posted by: Meme On: 11/9/2008

Comment Title: Smoking Ban
First of all, CS is not any better than Bryan so stop comparing. This stricter smoking ban is ridiculous. Businesses are already hurting from the economy and now the council wants to help shut them down. It should be the owners' option to deal with smoking or not smoking. I'm a non-smoker and the smokers I have been around are very considerate of non-smokers. When I checked last, we were still living in the UNITED STATES -not a Nazi run-country. Until I see something in black and white that proves 2nd hand-smoke is harmful, I will stand with this. I've never seen or heard of anyone belly up to a bar, have 3 or more cigarettes, get in their car and kill someone.......

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Posted by: El Burro Grande On: 11/9/2008

Comment Title:
HEE NAW, HEE NAW, HEE NAW

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Posted by: Burro from Bryan stay out of CS. On: 11/9/2008

Comment Title:
You have been comment and Bashing CS/TAMU for over a year. We in CS will stay out of the Slums of Bryan. You can stay out of the peaceful and prestige's CS.

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Posted by: On: 11/9/2008

Comment Title:
Who the blazes are you and who are you addressing?

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Posted by: On: 11/9/2008

Comment Title: Dallas councilman crusading against baggy pants
I hate saggy drawers too but this is EXACTLY in line with what I'm talking about...

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Posted by: On: 11/8/2008

Comment Title:
Oh damn! I did forget to bash College Station and A&M, didn't I. Well, College Station has a bunch of regular Eagle contributors who would prefer to suck on something other than a cigarette, but since O.U. did enough bashing of A&M today, I'll let them slide.

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Posted by: On: 11/8/2008

Comment Title: S P E C I A L I N T E R E S T S ... where will it end?
What about alcohol? I find it's smell offensive. I find its use offensive. It is bad for EVERYONE. What about sugar? I find wound up kids in public places offensive. What about fatty foods? I find fat people offensive- and they run up medical bills too. What about food buffets? They spread germs and allow for fat people to get fatter. That offends me. BBQ'd meat is reportedly a carcinogen. Are you going to shut down restaurants- then come after my backyard grill? What about red cars? I find the color offensive on a car. What about colors of clothes? Some gangs wear colors you know. What about baggy pants? Some gang bangers wear them you know. They offend me. What about profanity? I find it offensive too. What about my music, my movies, my fights? Some find them offensive you know. What about my speech or my bumper sticker? You going to make me shut up or remove it? Some people may be offended. My doctor may be offended by my lack of ability to pay my bill in cash. Will you pass a law stating I MUST have insurance? What about my DNA? Maybe I have a gene that will bad. Am I no longer entitled to insurance? The oil/gas rigs drilling near my folks house is offensive. It stinks. It's loud. It offends me. Where are the supporters? And- as far as Austin goes, if it is so wonderful, any of you are free to move there. What about my freedom and the ability to post comments here? Do they offend you? Try telling the Eagle to censor its publication. COME ON! GET REAL council/committee members. I FIND YOU OFFENSIVE! Your rights end where another person's begin. Keep your butts just as responsible and polite cig smokers do with theirs- where they belong- managing the city's staff, services, money, etc. STAY OUT OF INDIVIDUALS RIGHTS. That is for courts and congress, not councils or committees! I know most of this rant sounds ridiculous but so is the attempt by a few to CONTROL the many. And you know what? I DO NOT SMOKE- IT OFFENDS ME!

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Posted by: On: 11/8/2008

Comment Title:
Am/CS-Basher from Bryan. Stay out of CS. Bryan is your speed.

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Posted by: On: 11/8/2008

Comment Title:
I can't think of any two people whose support of anti-smoking ordinances would be more likely to engender support for the opposition than Jamie@CS and Loser Police. (By the way Bob H: did you mean "IEP" - Improvised explosive device? Because I don;t think many people have died from an exploding "IUD" - intrauterine device).

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Posted by: Have Mercy On: 11/8/2008

Comment Title: Business Rights is Right
The market place should take care of this issue, not the government. Shall we ban alcohol in bowling alleys because families find it offensive? Will that be next. Let's keep up with California. It is laughable that some of the large cities enforce extreme nonsmoking policies while their citizens breath air the is far more noxious and carinogen-filled than second hand smoke. The research on second hand smoke is biased and specious at best. Statistics are numbers manipulated by those who with to "prove" a theory. A "good" statistician can make numbers prove just about anything. Please run and hide when you hear those old words, "I'm from the government, and I'm here to help."

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Posted by: On: 11/7/2008

Comment Title:
JAMIE@CS THIS MAY HELP KEEP TRASH FROM OTHER CITIES OUT OF CS.

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Posted by: kgb On: 11/7/2008

Comment Title: well stated "business rights"
but its not gonna work that way anymore. look at the overall picture. when arrogant leftists control things, as they do in CS, these business' will do as THEY say. as we have seen, certain business are allowed, some are not. they are in the process of telling us how much water we can use, which will eventually turn to them telling us how much electricity we can use. (OR we will pay a higher rate over the allotted amount.) they will tell us where and how much we can drive in the city. (what do you think the obsessive push is for all these silly waste of greenspace bike trails, that you idiots keep voting for ?) they are telling us the size of the acreage we can have on the outskirts of the city limits. they annex who they wish. they tell us where we can build. they dictate how a building will look. the size, the height, the materials, the colors, where the building can be located, the number and type of trees, shrubs and landscaping. they tell us where and what size of sign you may have. they tell us how much money we must spend on "art"! they tell us which schools our kids must attend. this all has very little to do about smoking. its all about control. the elitists know whats best for you! welcome to europe. you waste your time arguing about a few 100 smokers in town. HA! first its a cigarette, then its your wallet, next its more of your rights.

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Posted by: El Burro On: 11/7/2008

Comment Title:
I'm with Grump as to the medical suggestion.

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Posted by: Loser Police On: 11/7/2008

Comment Title:
Smokers are losers! Smoke in your car with the windows up. Don't make me breath your second hand smoke!

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Posted by: Grump On: 11/7/2008

Comment Title: Re: Business Rights
There is no doubt that smoking leads to serious long-term health problems. Here is a proposition: we won't force you smokers to quit smoking if you agree to purchase your own healthcare and never use Medicare in old age. As long as my tax dollars are used to fund healthcare for others, I will speak out against people who smoke, not only harming themselves but other people who are exposed to smokers' toxic fumes.

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Posted by: Bikergranny On: 11/7/2008

Comment Title: RIGHT ON!
This is in response to Bob H., "business rights" and a couple of unnamed...Right on brother! I am a courteous smoker as well and through it all, have found that it is the complaining non-smoker who is rude and obnoxious. I also give kudos to "more government intrusion" and "smoking ban" for their non-smoking insight and the fact that they realize that all of our freedoms are being stricken one by one. To Jamie, I have realized that you are an unstable person. And last but not least, to "face the facts about smoking ordinance" there are plenty of other folks that frequent our establishments in the College Station area and, quite frankly, don't need you. Houston needs you more!

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Posted by: On: 11/7/2008

Comment Title: Face the facts about smoking ordinance
The Longhorns do it better, you know. Austin has one of the strongest and most comprehensive smoking ordinances in the state. It protects customers and workers in restaurants, bars and other public places. No time limits, no concessions. And it has proven to be an economic catalyst, encouraging patrons to stay longer and spend more at their clean-air establishments. As a Former Student and an Aggie Football and Baseball season-ticket holder, I am frequently in College Station on the weekends. Yet I nearly always leave as soon as the games are over, returning to my sister's house in Houston where we can go out at night to both restaurants and bars that are free of secondhand smoke. I know that MANY of my fellow Aggies do the same. Imagine the revenue you are missing simply because we don't want to go to a smoke-filled place. But it's more than just a positive economic stimulus. It is a way to proactively address a serious health issue. It frankly surprises me that the College Station City Council has not already strengthened this critical health ordinance -- they have an opportunity to protect the lives and lungs of countless young adults (patrons and workers) and, at the same time, positively influence their behavior. Research shows that smoking ordinances do impact smokers and those considering starting by changing the social norm regarding smoking in public and by curbing the amount of cigarettes that individuals smoke. Strong ordinances also protect the 75-80% of patrons who don't smoke by eliminating the hazard of secondhand smoke, a known an proven carcinogen. It's time for College Station to take a significant step forward. I encourage the mayor and Council members to fast-track this change and vote for a clean-air city.

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Posted by: On: 11/7/2008

Comment Title: Business Rights
This is a courtesy issue and tobacco is still a legal substance. This issue isn’t about whether or not you or I actually smoke. It is about freedoms and personal choices of citizens, patrons, customers and business owners. If a restaurant owner wishes to cater to smokers, they must be prepared to invest heavily in their business facility so they can meet certain guidelines, like vents and exhaust fans. If a patron doesn’t wish to visit that business, they are free to go elsewhere. After all, the city isn’t a partner and won’t co-sign a note at the bank with that owner for the business to operate. The city should let that owner succeed – or fail – on their own. The city has an obligation to clear a path and pave the road for business, not to fabricate obstacles and hurdles for business to overcome. If one pizza restaurant allows smoking and another one doesn’t, each one will attract certain customers based on that fact alone and you and I should have that option. I might even be a casual smoker that chooses to do business with the place that doesn’t allow smoking. Here is a novel idea – the city shouldn’t try to force non-smokers to smoke, and they shouldn’t try to force smokers to stop. Let the marketplace do that. This issue is a slippery slope that won’t stop with tobacco. Thank-you for your time and consideration.

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Posted by: On: 11/7/2008

Comment Title:
It now sounds like we have the same group of idiots that ran Bryan into into the ground 20 years ago pulling strings CS government now. I know a few past city council members that have moved to CS from Bryan.

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Posted by: kgb On: 11/7/2008

Comment Title: whiners!
here we go again! you are the same people who voted for this last "group" of council members. what did you expect? LESS gov't intrusion? HA! they havent even started yet!

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Posted by: On: 11/7/2008

Comment Title: Smoking Ban
I think this is crazy. I do not smoke and don't judge those who do, those who are trying to ban smoking for the safety of the smokers and others what are you doing about drinking. I have not heard of anybody smoking and getting behind the wheel and killing someone how many people die from the use or others use of alcohol. I suppose you don't want to ban drinking because YOU LIKE IT. The business owner is paying his own rent and utilities if he allows smoking and you don't like it don't do business with them if his business drops or fails then its his fault, if the city is going to tell him what he can allow in his business what part of his expenses are they going to pick up.

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Posted by: On: 11/7/2008

Comment Title:
Bad idea for Bars. Smokers are big tippers.

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Posted by: On: 11/7/2008

Comment Title:
Good way to have Tax From CS go to Bryan.

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Posted by: Jamie@CS On: 11/7/2008

Comment Title: Smoking kills
Smoking is for ignorant people end of story.

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Posted by: On: 11/7/2008

Comment Title: More government intrusion
First, I am not a cigarette smoker. I am against cigarettes period(unlike the rep from the cancer society?) Some restrictions are necessary and appreciated. Some requirements are unrealistic. This is still America isn't it? How about placing smoking bans on some places (public)and allowing voluntary compliance on others (private)? I'm saying allow smoking in places such as smoke shops or even some bars/restaurants. It should be posted at the front door of the smoking allowed, if any. That way, those that enjoy smoking with their food or beverage or in a place like the cigar store, have a place to go. If you don't want to be around it, DON'T GO THERE! If smoking is allowed, make requirements of a serious ventilation and filtration system.Sounds simple to me.

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Posted by: Bob H. On: 11/7/2008

Comment Title: What the Hey???
Are you kidding me?? "Public Outdoor areas"?? Before you know it, smokers will be treated like the Lepers of old. Give me a break. I AM a smoker, I am courteous to put my smokes away when there are non-smokers around, I smoke where I am allowed, and if there was an IUD at the ashtray, I would be killed with the others. I am a veteran of these United States and have fought for the freedoms of the many against the tyranny of the few. If smokers are behaaavinnng...leave them be. We have complied and obeyed. Leave us alone. Do you all realize that "public areas" also include playgrounds, parks, and the breezeways of apartment complexes?? Why are there so many smoking illnesses?? Because the non-smokers have put us outside in the cold!!! Nuff said!!

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