Ping. Figgertoes.. About time

Atlantic City officials could vote later this month on a measure that would
expand New Jersey's statewide smoking ban to the city's 13 casinos.

The ban, which took effect in April, exempted casino floors.

But state lawmakers put a provision into the law that allows cities and
towns to adopt tougher regulations on their own.

During a public hearing yesterday, more than a dozen casino workers and
gamblers told City Council members about smoke-filled workspaces, stinking
clothes and respiratory problems they've encountered due to smoking.

One more public hearing is planned, and the council is scheduled to vote on
the measure December 29th. If it's approved, a ban could take effect 20 days
after being signed by the mayor.

No casino industry officials spoke at yesterday's hearing. But
word has circulated that the casinos may sue if the city enacts a ban.






(Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)




--

BetsyB

betsyb wrote:
> Atlantic City officials could vote later this month on a measure that would
> expand New Jersey's statewide smoking ban to the city's 13 casinos.
>
> The ban, which took effect in April, exempted casino floors.
>
> But state lawmakers put a provision into the law that allows cities and
> towns to adopt tougher regulations on their own.
>
> During a public hearing yesterday, more than a dozen casino workers and
> gamblers told City Council members about smoke-filled workspaces, stinking
> clothes and respiratory problems they've encountered due to smoking.
>
> One more public hearing is planned, and the council is scheduled to vote on
> the measure December 29th. If it's approved, a ban could take effect 20 days
> after being signed by the mayor.
>
> No casino industry officials spoke at yesterday's hearing. But
> word has circulated that the casinos may sue if the city enacts a ban.

>
> (Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
>
>
> BetsyB

Thanks., Betsy,

I'm happy to see this. I think I may have seen something come through
on my smoking law email list . It follows legislation & smoking issues
world-wide. I'll look for it. I've been very busy until usually 2 AM
or so every night fighting a variety of issues that have hit me all at
once, so have had to let my general reading slip.

Our Colorado law has sustained legal battles. But our casinos still
allow smoking. We're working on that part. I know the primary person
in CO working on getting that passed. It WILL happen. I'll make sure
she monitors yours.

Our city enacted a new rule prohibiting the wearing of 'sign' T-shirts'
within the city hall complex the very day of our 1st Wal-Mart hearing.
We, of course, have anti Wal-Mart T-shirts. Hard ball. And that's the
least of it.

I hope that whatever is troubling you (another of your posts) resolves.


Hugs,
Fig

--

BetsyB

"Figgertoes" <figtoes@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1164915671.145307.168360@h54g2000cwb.googlegr oups.com...
>
> betsyb wrote:
>> Atlantic City officials could vote later this month on a measure that
>> would
>> expand New Jersey's statewide smoking ban to the city's 13 casinos.
>>
>> The ban, which took effect in April, exempted casino floors.
>>
>> But state lawmakers put a provision into the law that allows cities and
>> towns to adopt tougher regulations on their own.
>>
>> During a public hearing yesterday, more than a dozen casino workers and
>> gamblers told City Council members about smoke-filled workspaces,
>> stinking
>> clothes and respiratory problems they've encountered due to smoking.
>>
>> One more public hearing is planned, and the council is scheduled to vote
>> on
>> the measure December 29th. If it's approved, a ban could take effect 20
>> days
>> after being signed by the mayor.
>>
>> No casino industry officials spoke at yesterday's hearing. But
>> word has circulated that the casinos may sue if the city enacts a ban.
>
>>
>> (Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
>>
>>
>> BetsyB
>
> Thanks., Betsy,
>
> I'm happy to see this. I think I may have seen something come through
> on my smoking law email list . It follows legislation & smoking issues
> world-wide. I'll look for it. I've been very busy until usually 2 AM
> or so every night fighting a variety of issues that have hit me all at
> once, so have had to let my general reading slip.
>
> Our Colorado law has sustained legal battles. But our casinos still
> allow smoking. We're working on that part. I know the primary person
> in CO working on getting that passed. It WILL happen. I'll make sure
> she monitors yours.
>
> Our city enacted a new rule prohibiting the wearing of 'sign' T-shirts'
> within the city hall complex the very day of our 1st Wal-Mart hearing.
> We, of course, have anti Wal-Mart T-shirts. Hard ball. And that's the
> least of it.
>
> I hope that whatever is troubling you (another of your posts) resolves.
>
>
> Hugs,
> Fig

Nothing troubles me it's the Onc who is upset. I feel great! Note they don't
vote before News Years Eve? My sister in law is the union rep for the
Casino employees. I know she is knee deep there.

"Figgertoes" <figtoes@yahoo.com> wrote in
news:1164915671.145307.168360@h54g2000cwb.googlegr oups.com:

>
> betsyb wrote:
>> Atlantic City officials could vote later this month on a measure that
>> would expand New Jersey's statewide smoking ban to the city's 13
>> casinos.
>>
>> The ban, which took effect in April, exempted casino floors.
>>
>> But state lawmakers put a provision into the law that allows cities
>> and towns to adopt tougher regulations on their own.
>>
>> During a public hearing yesterday, more than a dozen casino workers
>> and gamblers told City Council members about smoke-filled workspaces,
>> stinking clothes and respiratory problems they've encountered due to
>> smoking.
>>
>> One more public hearing is planned, and the council is scheduled to
>> vote on the measure December 29th. If it's approved, a ban could take
>> effect 20 days after being signed by the mayor.
>>
>> No casino industry officials spoke at yesterday's hearing. But
>> word has circulated that the casinos may sue if the city enacts a
>> ban.
>
>>
>> (Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
>>
>>
>> BetsyB
>
> Thanks., Betsy,
>
> I'm happy to see this. I think I may have seen something come
> through on my smoking law email list . It follows legislation &
> smoking issues world-wide. I'll look for it. I've been very busy
> until usually 2 AM or so every night fighting a variety of issues that
> have hit me all at once, so have had to let my general reading slip.
>
> Our Colorado law has sustained legal battles. But our casinos still
> allow smoking. We're working on that part. I know the primary person
> in CO working on getting that passed. It WILL happen. I'll make sure
> she monitors yours.
>
> Our city enacted a new rule prohibiting the wearing of 'sign'
> T-shirts' within the city hall complex the very day of our 1st
> Wal-Mart hearing. We, of course, have anti Wal-Mart T-shirts. Hard
> ball. And that's the least of it.
>
> I hope that whatever is troubling you (another of your posts)
> resolves.
>
>
> Hugs,
> Fig
>
>
Betsy, this was in the New York Times & copied to my email group. I take
it the casino workers support the ban? - they do here. Our situation was
similar to yours. We didn't have the votes to include the casinos on the
1st round.

Fig

November 16, 2006
Atlantic City Smoking Ban Moves Forward
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Filed at 8:58 p.m. ET
ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (AP) -- Casinos that helped push through an exemption
to a new statewide smoking ban may have to start clearing the air anyway.
The City Council voted unanimously Wednesday to introduce a proposal to
eliminate smoking in all public places, including gambling floors at the
city's 13 casinos.
A final vote could take place late next month, and the measure could take
effect as soon as January if approved and signed by the mayor.
City Councilman Bruce Ward, a health care lawyer and a co-sponsor of the
proposal, said he ''became inspired by the cause'' while attending a
recent anti-smoking rally.
''People were giving their testimony about their lives and how their
lives were impacted. Legislation at the state level takes a long time,''
he said. ''Meanwhile, we have a health hazard that continues.''
At the time the state law was passed, lawmakers said they lacked the
votes to get a smoking ban through the Legislature without exempting
casinos -- but they did add a provision allowing cities to craft tougher
rules of their own. Cigar bars and simulcast racing sites also are exempt
from the state law, which took effect in April.
Representatives of the Casino Association of New Jersey did not return
calls seeking comment Thursday.