A St. Joseph resident who has taken on the City Council on past issues is gearing up for a new fight over the city’s “Clean Air” ordinance.
On Tuesday night, a group of about 20 people, ranging from local bar owners to at least one non-smoker who opposes the smoking ban, gathered at Legends to organize their opposition by way of the United Freedom Coalition.
St. Joseph resident Bob Meeks is spearheading the coalition. It’s not the first time he’s organized the group to fight the city on different issues, but he said this fight is particularly outrageous.
“This is something that really stirred me up the most,” he said. “Basically, because if you keep the count that I see overseas, there’s been over 60,000 people that have lost their lives and come back in body bags for two words: freedom and choice. I don’t think that this council, nor any legislatures, should slap them in the face and say ‘We’re going to take your rights away to do business.’”
Mr. Meeks said the main aim of the meeting was to bring together the group around the smoking ban issue and to organize opponents of the ban.
“Right now I want these people to be organized, which they will be, understand the program, and hopefully get this stopped, that’s all my goal is,” he said.
Mr. Meeks added he wanted the group be active in attending meetings regarding the ban and to give a voice to their concerns.
“Basically, we want to organize everybody, and inform them that we’re not going to City Hall like a riot, we’re going in peacefully, we’re going in quietly, we’re going in respectfully,” he said. “We’re going to tell them what our feelings are and we’re going to try to have our three minutes to talk.”
Clad in a United Freedom Coalition T-shirt and a “Smokers Wanted” hat, Mr. Meeks zipped around in a mobility scooter to interact with members of the audience throughout the meeting, some of whom were smoking themselves.
Neighborhood Tavern owner Leo Storoz said he read about the group and came to hear more. Mr. Storoz said he is concerned about the ordinance’s language, which he believes would cost him business.
As it stands, a drafted ordinance bans smoking in public spaces, with exceptions for bars that seat 49 people or less, and the casino. Neighborhood Tavern has 84 seats.
“Most of my customers smoke. They want to come in and smoke, and that’s fine. If you’re a non-smoker and you want to come in and raise hell, don’t come in. If you want a beer, go to another bar.”
Like Mr. Storoz, George Hill, owner of Last Call Bar & Grill, said he doesn’t like the idea of allowing exemptions for smaller bars.
“I think it’s unfair across the board, as far as separating us bar owners,” he said to the group.
After the meeting wrapped up, Mr. Hill said his motto on the issue is that it should be all or nothing.
“If the councilmen pass it, it should be all or none,” he said. “… They shouldn’t pick and chose where you can smoke. Smoke’s either dangerous, or it’s not.”
Originally written By Jessica Shumaker St. Joseph News-Press
