June 30, 2006
The Saloon's Fancy New Smoking Patio
The Strib has an article all about the Saloon's new smoking patio and the controversy it has caused. The $485,000 patio has a fireplace, heated seats, and will soon have wide screen TV's on the wall.
It was initially approved by the Minneapolis City Council, built and was open to smoking for several weeks. However, when anti-smoking ban activist and Stub and Herbs owner, Sue Jeffers, got a look at it, she went straight to the City Council.
"Sue Jeffers, who owns Stub & Herb's by the University of Minnesota campus and is a Republican candidate for governor, said that when she saw the Saloon's addition with glass in the windows, she immediately applied for permits to build the same type of room but didn't get an answer from the city. 'It's beautiful. After I saw it, I went to City Hall and said I want exactly the same thing,' she said. 'You can't give it to one place and not the other. It has to be straight across the board.'"
The City Council promptly shut down the Saloon's new smoking area. It might be because Jeffers wanted the same thing, or it might be because John Moore, owner of the Saloon, was one of the few bar owners to support the smoking ban. The Saloon's patio has since reopened with some chances to the structure.
Right now, the Minneapolis City Council is looking at what an enclosed structure is and what they are willing to allow. One thing is sure: bars that can provide comfort for smokers in the winter have an advantage over those that don't.
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Comments
Vote for Sue Jeffers in the Septmeber 12 Primary.
Defeat PAWLENTY! Don't even let him get the chance to go up in the GENERAL ELECTION!
Posted by: YAY SUE! | July 1, 2006 11:36 PM
Absolutely vote for Sue Jeffers. Pawlenty wants to impose this smoking ban nonsense on the entire state.
Posted by: Ben | July 5, 2006 12:36 AM
Wait, I thought it was the liberal-socialist-commie wackos behind smoking bans. Now Pawlenty's behind it? That don't seem to jive, Sue Jeffers fans. Either it's the libs, or the nasty repubs. Either way, it's not much of a 'single issue' to run on.
Posted by: Andy | July 5, 2006 3:05 AM
Pawlenty does favor a state wide ban, and has said that if the ban reaches his desk he will sign it. While I agree this issue is not extremely important to the state, I think that being in favor of such a law clarifies Pawlenty's overall philosophy on government. Conservatives are supposed to stand for defending property rights and small businesses. They fight against tax increases and regulation. Tim Pawlenty has fallen short on these objectives over the past four years.
He raised taxes on cigarettes. He increased the minimum wage, costing small business owners thousands of dollars. He increased student fees and tuition in Minnesota colleges, which rose annually by double digits. Ironically, he now wants the tax payers to finance the same tuition expenses that rose sharply under his administration. And of course he raised sales taxes in Hennepin County to pay for new stadiums.
This is a guy who rejects property rights while increasing taxes to pay for costly government projects and programs. Between Hatch, Hutchinson, and Pawlenty, there is not a single conservative in the group. Sue Jeffers is the only one left standing, and I will proudly cast my vote for her in the primary.
Pawlenty has a record of
Posted by: Rich | July 5, 2006 3:19 PM
I am a business Admin major and I just vote for Sue I hope you all did.. I personally don't smoke but as a server I know that smokers tip better than people that don't so if there is a ban in Mionnesota on smoking we will get booty diddled icky as servers and as people. But further more we don't want hte smokers getting cranky cause if they don't have a ciggrette then they get angry
Posted by: Jo For Sue | September 12, 2006 8:50 PM