26 March, MMVIII
Councilman ______:
I highly discourage you from supporting an increased smoking ban for Atlantic City casinos. The smoking ban is bad for Atlantic City.
If an employee is not satisfied with the atmosphere of his work environment he should take up his grievance with management, or find another job. Employees can lobby casino management with a group of like-minded co-workers and/or work through a labor union to negotiate the condition of a non-smoking atmosphere in their contract. It is not right to harness the power of government to accomplish a smoking ban. The decision to allow smoking is properly that of private establishments, with the aid and input of employees. Employees are free to work or not to work at a casino with a given amount of smoking.
The increased ban poses a further threat to casino gaming profits, the largest industry in Atlantic City. The economy is slowing down. The existing city 75/25 ordinance has not helped casino gaming profits. We do not want City Council to impose another burden on casino gaming. Allow the private industry to make the decision of how much smoking to allow in their establishments. Take a walk through a casino on a slow night and see that one area is busy, the smoking section. Not everyone that gambles smokes, but smokers are a loyal customer base. An increased smoking ban further alienates smokers, who are a substantial group of casino clients.
Government at all levels – city, county, state, & federal – is ever-encroaching on the liberty and rights of citizens. Proposed government-controlled security cameras will ensure that there is always an eye on citizens. The laws – code-enforcement, having license plates and registration in the state of residence, immigration status, prostitution, drugs, city directors’ residency requirement – are not uniformly enforced for all. There is too much favoritism masked under the guise of political correctness. The proposed smoking ban has City Council join anti-smoking groups at the expense of our town’s main industry and the citizens that are employed and patronize the Casinos. What is next? Will you support a limit of how many drinks one can purchase at a bar, restaurant, or casino? Will you support a government-imposed limit on the portion size of dishes at our restaurants?
Our frustration with your proposed smoking ban has led to the formation, last Saturday, of the Smokers’ Rights Association. We are already over 200 members. We are in favor of smokers to have the right to have the right to choose to patronize establishments that permit smoking. We are also in favor of government permitting free citizens to make the decision of whether or not their business will permit smoking and how much smoking. Please vote on behalf of citizens’ rights. Vote “no” on the proposed increased smoking ban.
Respectfully submitted,
Jesse O. Kurtz
609.334.3756
Spokesman
Smokers’ Rights Association
Tags: atlantic city councilmen, casino smoking ban, civil liberties, personal liberty, small business rights, Smokers' Rights Association
