April 28, 2003

No Smoking, Maybe

Mayor Webb continues his fight against the rights of property owners with a proposed smoking ban in Denver:

"The issue is very simple," Webb said during a news conference on the steps of the Denver City and County Building. "It's about life and death. It's about quality of life. It's a health issue."

"If a person goes in a restaurant and wants to be free of second-hand smoke, they should be able to do that," he added.

No, Mayor Webb, if they want to go to a smokeless restaurant, then someone should open one. If it's such an honestly good idea, then surely a smokeless restaurant with excellent food would prosper, perhaps even leading the "smoking" establishments to follow suit.

I don't smoke - never have - and I find the habit pretty disgusting all around. That said, if you want to smoke, and the property owner doesn't mind you smoking, knock yourself out. I don't have to eat or drink there if I don't want to - going out to eat is not a right. Controlling one's property should be.

Webb dismissed as "a phony argument" concerns that the plan would hurt Denver restaurants, especially in the ailing economy.