Notable

...
Here are a few personal notes on last night’s debate before the Springfield City Council on amending the city’s new smoking ban. I watched pretty much the whole thing on cable ch. 18.

- The one thing both sides agreed on was that the State needs to level the playing field by either imposing a statewide ban or not allowing any smoking bans. Obviously, I and many others much prefer the former. I think we’ll see that soon but we all need to let our lawmakers know how we feel.

- The worst speaker for the anti-ban side had to be the guy (I paid no attention to names) who stood up there and declared that those who die from secondhand smoke are “nameless and faceless” statistics that don’t matter ands may not even exist.

- The worst speaker for the pro-ban side was the college girl who declared that she and her friends all like to go out and drink but that they had never even heard of some of these establishments that were claiming to be hurting for business because of the smoking ban. I’m not sure having never heard of these places qualifies them for marginalization.

- The best point made last night that I had night heard before came from the owner of Maldaner’s. He pointed out that years ago city government paved the way for White Oaks mall to be built when it could have prevented it to save downtown businesses. I remember downtown before the mall and the growth of west-side businesses. Almost overnight, after the opening of the mall, downtown Springfield died. I'm talking ghost town complete with tumbleweeds. Dozens and dozens of businesses either made expensive moves or failed completely. The city, however, thrives today and even downtown has come back. Change often is painful. The smoking ban may have some negative impact on some businesses but the city as a whole is better off.

- Last night’s debate changed nobody’s mind.