It’s a Bar Stupid!

How New York slipped the smoking ban beneath the radar.

I’ve always suspected laws that target cigar smokers to be half filter, and half hypocrisy. But that’s me, its all I smoke. Sneaking up behind us is the runaway train known as the smoking ban. Cigarette smokers-who greatly outnumber us-are being swept up. The really strange part about this whole dilemma is, the government spends billions subsidizing tobacco, where do they get off banning it from public establishments? How does such a thing-that no doubt originates based on the personal opinion of just one or a few butt-heads-gain such momentum?

One thing for sure, its getting personal and its got to stop. During the long hot summer a law went into effect on 7/24 at 7am that was said to be for the purpose of protecting non-smokers from 2nd hand smoke. Its not enough that John Ashcroft invade your privacy, you got little would-be Ashcrofts making their presence felt in your private life whereas they wouldn’t be normally worthy of notice. The initial brains behind this measure are Assemblyman Alexander “Pete” Grannis, D-Manhattan. Described as “the Assembly’s principle anti-smoking proponent,” and state Senator Charles Fuschillo R-Merrick, who introduced a smoking ban last year that didn’t pass. Make no mistake about it, this isn’t about public officials looking out for your health, this is a message of power, a signal that your privacy has gone up in smoke by those who feel the urge to implement childlike control over adults.

This law flys in the face of common sense on several fronts, the obvious money loss for bars etc., is well documented, other bar owners complain of people who step outside to smoke not coming back to pay for their drinks. The issues behind the smoking ban have provided enough of a smokescreen to conceal some even larger more disturbing issues in Buffalo, issues of political corruption. A web of unethical practices chiefly involving Erie County’s cancer-with-cancer Joel Giambra. According to a report in the recent Alt Press, Giambra took charge of the Erie County Tobacco Asset Securitization Corporation (ETASC), an organization formed under local law 4-2000 to allocate the county’s portion of the national tobacco settlement ($211.7 million) and appointed himself, Budget Director Joe Passafiume (pass the smoke?), and County Comptroller Nancy Naples among others on the board.

On a national scale it was hoped that this tobacco settlement ($246 billion) would go toward state governments to make up the difference for the treatment of uninsured cancer patients. Reportedly ETASC is to pay Erie County an even smaller residual fund in addition to the $211.7 million for Buffalo economic development, rising Medicaid costs, revamping ECMC, and the County Executive’s regionalism projects. Of course as in all episodes of national funds directed towards depressed urban areas, the suburban agenda rears its ugly head. Buffalo News cites portions of the settlement already directed towards suburban road and bridge repairs. Erie County’s total portion of the tobacco settlement is said to be $646 million, and its anticipated that most of the $211.7 million-initially to be made available over ten years-will be spent in two years on such perks as Dunn Tire Park, County cars, County payroll, office equipment, golfing, and other portions still unaccounted for. Giambra’s opponent Dan Ward (D) was quoted as saying “this is a sinister enterprise put together to fleece government…” but beneath the ban is a veil of secrecy that fleeces voters.