Instead of complaining, learn to live with law

To The Daily: Why do we continue to lend so much newspaper space and credence to the vocal minority opposing Decatur’s smoking ban?

I’m tired in particular of reading Tony’s Country Cooking talk about how “damaged” they are by the ban. I work near Tony’s, and on a recent weekday I drove down Sixth Avenue at 11:30 a.m. and noticed Tony’s parking lot was packed to the gills — so busy that, if it had been my destination, I wouldn’t have stopped there for fear of not getting in and out during my lunch break.

Saturday, knowing that Tony’s was finally smoke free and I could enjoy their wonderful food without smelling like cigarette smoke all day, I set out from my house to enjoy a nice breakfast there.

As I approached, I was surprised to see 20 or so loud and frankly obnoxious protesters out front, so I kept on going and enjoyed my breakfast elsewhere.

It’s not the smoking ban hurting Tony’s Country Cooking.

Polls have clearly shown the people in Decatur who don’t want smoke-free dining are a tiny minority, and studies show when a ban is enacted, any business that initially falls away bounces back quickly.

Sure, everyone has a right to voice his opinion, but the minority has voiced its opinion and it’s time to move on. Tony’s could be better served, as could their customers, if they’d figure out a way to work with the ban instead of alienating potential customers, the overwhelming majority of whom are in favor of a smoke-free environment.

Tony’s has always had wonderful food which most of us have not been able to enjoy because of the smoke. Now that the smoke has settled, literally and figuratively, it’s time to work on attracting customers instead of alienating them.

S. Szczepanski
Decatur

Nonsmoker thinks council overstepped its authority

To The Daily: Big Brother lives in Decatur.

It looks like our City Council president, Big Brother Jackson, now wants to throw out our constitutional right of free speech.

Or is it that he and his council can’t stand criticism for violating our right of choice and destroying businesses?

I’m sure he and his fellow dictatorial council members would rather hold their meetings behind closed doors and force other unconstitutional laws on the people
of Decatur. Thank God for the Sunshine Law.

I’m sure they want this to go away, but it won’t.

Especially at the next election.

Oh yes, I haven’t smoked since 1980, but I believe smokers and businesses have rights, too.

Patrick Helpingstine
Decatur

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