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Blount County Voice Article
Nonprofits are smoke and mirrors
Contributed by Robert Pritchard
5/31/2005
This is a partial reprint of the original article by Judith Ducayne in "The Citizen Tribune Online"
Smokers all across the country feel targeted by the big-three nonprofit, nonsmoking organizations. These national organizations have used donations to lobby for laws to stop smoking throughout the nation.
Now Audrey Silk, founder of NYC Citizens Lobbying Against Smoker Harassment and her supporters are boycotting these nonprofit organizations.
Silk's strategy may seem a little harsh at first, but not when you begin to understand why she has taken this position.
Smoking is a legal act, and these organizations are accepting donations under the guise of research and development and then channeling away these funds to pursue their own political agenda to stop smoking.
For the year of 2001 neither of these three ranked below 75 in Smart Money's report on how the top 100 charities and nonprofit organizations use their money. In 2002 they did not rank below 85 of 100 charities.
When donating money, it is assumed that it's being used toward research, ad campaigns and to help people with these diseases. Instead, some of these donations were being used to change laws.
Restaurant and bar owners, to name a few, are damaged financially when these anti-smoking bans go into effect. The clientele becomes scarce and doesn't produce as much cash flow, therefore damaging mom-and-pop businesses throughout America.
The majority of us never knew these funds were being used to ban smoking. A huge chunk of donations for cancer, lung and heart diseases, comes from Silk's supporters. They own the bars, dance halls and taverns that hold benefits to help the families that have been hurt by these kinds of hardships. And the thank you they get is possible bankruptcy.
Lots of money has been made through these entrepreneurs only to be funneled right into the hands of the ones trying to shut down their establishments. How much sense does that make?
It seems absurd to ban a legal act. If it's so bad, why isn't it illegal? These same do-gooders rely on smokers because they receive money for their cause with each pack of cigarettes sold. Do smokers really know where all that tax you pay, when purchasing cigarettes, ends up in the final money count?
These anti-smoking agencies need to place proper attention on finding cures and remedies. This should be first and foremost. If they want to change laws, they should be very clear and precise about where and what the donated money will be used for. If these organizations want to be lawmakers, they need to form entirely different groups to push for their own legislation.
Then donors will be able to make informed decisions when giving their hard-earned dollars to a charitable agency. The members of the public should not have to be private detectives. It should be somewhat obvious as to where their offering is going.
Smoking may be bad, but using deceptive tactics to mislead the public is both bad and illegal!
Anyone can go to www.yessir-tn.info for more information and links. Our next meeting is scheduled for June 26 at the Greenbelt park near the amphitheater and covered picnic area. Come one, come all.
Knoxville News Sentinel 2 June 2005
Letters: June 2
June 2, 2005
Nazi Germany led world in antismoking crusade First, some history. The antismoking groups go back to the 1930s and started in Germany. Yes, that Nazi Party - the one responsible for World War II, the one that was responsible for the murders of as many as 6 million Jews and possibly 10 million other innocents.
This fact was first made public by Professor Robert Proctor's "The anti-tobacco campaign of the Nazis: a little known aspect of public health in Germany, 1933-45."
Proctor reveals that members of the medical profession in Nazi Germany were instigators, enablers and purveyors of all manner of horrific and murderous schemes - and were also fanatical antismoking campaigners.
And, as others have said, this is an issue of smokers' freedom - the freedom to choose to go out, eat a meal and have a cigarette or cigar - the same freedom that anti-smokers already have at least 65 percent of today.
The bottom line is that the antismoking groups want to push what they want down your throat. They want to take away one of your rights.
ROBERT PRITCHARD
Maryville
In his 1999 study, "The Nazi War on Cancer" (Princeton University Press), Robert Proctor notes that Germany had the most aggressive antismoking campaign in the world, and German scientists were the first to link smoking with lung cancer. -
The Editor.
Senator Finney Letter
Received May 23, 2005
Dear Mr. Pritchard:
I am embarrassed to write you at this late date. You had sent me a letter about smokers' rights, dated February 21.
I had set the letter aside (for what I thought would be a few days) to research some tobacco/smoking bills in the General Assembly. I set the letter aside too well. I discovered just now that I had failed to write you. Please forgive me for not responding sooner.
There were a small number of bills introduced this year, which would ban or regulate smoking in various public places, including restaurants.
As far as I can tell, none of these bills will survive votes in one or both legislative committees or chambers this year. I may be wrong about this view, but I looked into these bills about ten days ago, in response to another constituent's inquiry, and this was my belief at that time.
Thank you for contacting me, and once again please excuse my tardiness in answering your letter.
Sincerely,
Raymond Finney
Senator, Eighth Senatorial District
Knoxville News Sentinel
Royal Sargent finally got an opinion letter published in the Knoxville News Sentinel !
From: Royal Sargent
To: Knoxville Sentinel
Sent: Wednesday, May 11, 2005 6:05 AM
Published: Sunday, May 22, 2005
Subject: Letter to the Editor
Your Editorial of May 10th entitled "Nonsmokers deserve space to breathe" made me think that I was still back in Rhode Island where smokers are considered to be "second-class citizens", have been taxed to death and prohibited from smoking indoors except in their own homes or in the State-run gambling venues.
I can remember when smoking in public places was not "a convenience" but was the norm. It was the non-smokers who were afforded the convenience of having "no-smoking" sections in restaurants. Times have certainly changed and now some restaurants set aside small sections for the smokers. But, to the non-smokers, this is not enough -- they want all smoking banned in restaurants even though they can chose not to eat at a restaurant which allows smoking.
Your Editorial listed several restaurants that have gone "no-smoking" on their own so why do you need the State Legislature to allow cities the power to outlaw smoking in restaurants? Shouldn't a restaurant owner be able to make the choice of smoking/non-smoking without "big brother" making the choice? Is "big brother" going to reimburse the owner for any lost revenue caused by an imposed no-smoking ban?
Second-hand smoke may indeed be harmful but I think that the threat is vastly exaggerated. Hot air rises and smoke is hot air. Most restaurants that I visit have very high ceilings (probably 15 to 20 feet high); therefore, that is where the smoke accumulates and does not drift around at table level. Smoking at outdoor venues such as Dollywood and Smokies Park has been restricted to designated areas -- ridiculous!
If smoking is so terrible then your Editorials should be directed at outlawing the sale of tobacco products in the State of Tennessee and not persecuting those who indulge in the pleasures of a legal product.
Royal Sargent
Alcoa, TN 37701
681-4169
The Citizen Tribune Online
http://www.auburnpub.com/articles/2005/05/24/opinion/my_view/myview01.txt
The Citizen Tribune online
Nonprofits are all smoke and mirrors
By Judy Ducayne
Audrey Silk, the founder of NYC Citizens Lobbying Against Smoker Harassment, feels targeted by organizations like the American Cancer Society, American Lung Association and American Heart Association. These national organizations have used donations to lobby for laws to stop smoking throughout the nation.
Now Audrey Silk and her supporters are planning to boycott these nonprofit organizations.
Silk's strategy may seem a little harsh at first, but not when you begin to understand why she has taken this position.
Smoking is a legal act, and these organizations are accepting donations under the guise of research and development and then channeling away these funds to pursue their own political agenda to stop smoking.
They are also misusing their tax-free nonprofit status to lobby for anti-smoking legislation. This could be crossing over into possible legal and ethical issues.
When donating money, it is assumed that it's being used towards research. Instead, some of these donations were being used to change laws. Restaurant and bar owners, to name a few, were damaged financially when this anti-smoking ban went into effect. The clientele became scarce and didn't produce as much cash flow, therefore damaging mom and pop businesses throughout America.
The majority of us never knew these funds were being used to ban smoking. A huge chunk of cancer, lung and heart fund-raising comes from Silk's supporters. They own the bars, dance halls and taverns that hold benefits to help the families that have been hurt by these kinds of hardships. And the thank you they get is bankruptcy.
Lots of money has been made through these entrepreneurs only to be funneled right into the hands of the ones trying to shut down their establishments: the ACS, ALA and the AHA. How much sense does that make?
It seems absurd to ban a legal act. If it's so bad why isn't it illegal? These same do-gooders rely on smokers because they receive money for their cause with each pack of cigarettes sold. Unknowingly, smokers are already paying a hidden tax to the ACS when purchasing cigarettes.
These anti-smoking agencies need to place proper attention to finding cures and remedies. This should be first and foremost. If they want to change laws, they should be very clear and precise about where and what this money will be used for. If these organizations want to be lawmakers, they need to form entirely different groups to push for their own legislation.
Then donors will be able to make informed decisions when giving their hard-earned dollars to a charitable agency. The public should not have to be private detectives. It should be somewhat obvious as to where their offering is going.
Smoking may be bad, but using deceptive tactics to mislead the public is both bad and illegal!
Ducayne's column appears Tuesdays in The Citizen. She can be reached at sacredheart6005@hotmail.com
YesSIR Restaurants
YesSIR
Restaurants to Patronize
YesSIR members are restaurant customers who love good food, but we actively avoid establishments which refuse to protect our rights to smoke. If you care about your rights, join us in directing your restaurant dollars toward restaurants with smoking environments and away from those which are more interested in supporting Anti Smoking Nazi's.
Also, use the links below to tell restaurant management that you will continue to patronize their businesses more often as long as they allow smoking in their establishments. Please let us know through the E-Mail button on the main page of other restaurants that support our smoking rights, and we'll gladly add them to this list!
Applebee's
http://www.applebees.com/guestrelations/guest_contactus.php
4551 W 107th St
Overland Park KS 66207
(888) 592-7753
Chilis
http://www.chilis.com/contact/
6820 LBJ Freeway
Dallas TX 75240
(800) 983-4637
Cracker Barrel Old Country Store
http://www.crackerbarrel.com/contact.cfm?doc_id=926
PO Box 787
Lebanon TN 37088-0787
(800) 333-9566
(888) 263-4304 fax
Famous Daves
guestrelations@famousdaves.com
http://www.famousdaves.com/contacts.cfm
8091 Wallace Rd
Eden Prairie, MN 55344
(952) 294-1300
Golden Corral
http://www.goldencorral.net/contactus.htm
PO Box 29502
Raleigh NC 27626-0502
(919) 781-9310
Hooters
http://www.hootershotline.com/contact.asp
Hooters of America, Inc.
1815 The Exchange
Atlanta GA 30339
(770) 303-8124
OCharleys
http://www.ocharleys.com/contact_us/
3038 Sidco Dr
Nashville TN 37204
(615) 256-8500
(615) 782-5043 fax
Outback Steakhouse
http://www.outback.com/contactus/contactus.asp?Category=CATEGORY19
Outback Steakhouse Inc
2202 North West Shore Blvd, Suite 500
Tampa FL 33607
(813) 282-1225
Pizza Hut (First family dine-in restaurant to introduce no-smoking in the United Kingdom)
http://www.pizzahut.com/contact/feedback_restaurant_unitedstates.asp
14841 Dallas Pkwy
Dallas TX 75254
(800) 948-8488
Puleos Grill
http://www.puleosgrille.com/contact.htm
(865) 673-9101
Raffertys Restaurant & Bar
http://www.raffertys.com/contactus.asp
1750 Scottsville Rd, Suite 2
Bowling Green KY 42104
(270) 781-2857
(270) 781-2834
(270) 781-2860 fax
Red Lobster
http://www.redlobster.com/contactus.asp
5900 Lake Ellenor Dr
Orlando FL 32809
(800) 562-7837
Romanos Macaroni Grill
http://www.brinker.com/contact/comments.asp
6820 LBJ Freeway
Dallas TX 75240
(800) 983-4637
Ruby Tuesday
http://www.rubytuesday.com/info/contactUs.htm
150 W Church Ave
Maryville TN 37801
(800) 325-0755
Ryan's
http://www.ryansinc.com/frameset_talktous.html
Shoneys
http://www.shoneys.com/about/comments.html
1717 Elm Hill Pike, Suite B-1
Nashville TN 37210
(615) 391-5395
T.G.I. Fridays
internetmail@fridays.com
Carlson Restaurants Worldwide
4201 Marsh Ln
Carrollton TX 75007
(800) 374-3297
(972) 662-5400
Texas Roadhouse
info@TexasRoadhouse.com
http://www.texasroadhouse.com/contact_us.php
6040 Dutchmans Ln, Suite 400
Louisville KY 40205
(800) 839-7623
Up the Creek Fish Camp & Grill
http://www.upthecreekfishcamp.com/html/contactus.shtml
6620 McGinnis Ferry Road, Suite B
Duluth GA 30097
(770) 623-0360
Waffle House
http://www.wafflehouse.com/contactus.htm
5986 Financial Dr
Norcross GA 30071
(877) 992-3353
N.Y Governor's Comments
NY Gov Pataki, How dare you?!
To our illustrious elected leaders in N. Y. State and Erie County.
You say that the smoking ban is a sensitive subject, and as I told Gov Pataki and County Ex Joel Giambra, "Yes it is a sensitive subject, it is sensitive to the people that it effects directly and that is the Private Property business owners, the employees i.e.: bartenders, waiters, waitresses, busboys, dishwashers, cooks, chefs, maintenance, delivery drivers, salesmen, suppliers in the food and beverage industry, and above all, it hurts the very people that supply the jobs that are the backbone of this state, the same people that have put everything they have into the survival of their businesses.
You, yes, YOU! Are responsible for the destruction of the food and beverage industry in this state.Then you threaten to raise our taxes because YOU need more revenue! YOU! threaten to raise the sales tax because YOU need more revenue!
How dare you
It is YOU that has caused the economic collapse of this once great state, now we are merely a government dependent state with the highest taxes in the country, the highest in Medicaid costs, and the state that lags behind in every aspect of an economy..
I hope you are proud of your accomplishments!
But at the same time I want to thank you, you are wondering at this point, Why?
Why does this man want to thank us...
You and your inability to manage and to run the government keeping in mind that it is "We The People" that you are supposed to represent. YOU are personally responsible for the TAX REVOLT that has begun in Erie County, has now gone into Niagara and Chataqua counties, moved onto Rochester and Syracuse. We will be in Albany soon.
So Thank you for continuing to destroy businesses, families and taking away the life savings of the very people that pay your salary. Because we are coming to your neighborhood very soon.
You want more revenue? Eliminate this destructive smoking ban, lower the taxes on gasoline, remove the sin tax on cigarettes, eliminate the tolls, lower the sales taxes on everything, fix Medicaid, fix welfare, reform will no longer be enough. We demand it now.
If not, you can shutoff the lights when the only people left here are the government employees and their union thugs.
Read and weep!
NY Albany Blessed Sacrament Church Bingo Hall 50%
NY Albany Temple Israel Bingo Hall 50% According to Herb Holland, some of the regulars told volunteers that they would abstain from playing bingo, to protest the smoking ban. He hasn't seen them since.
NY Astoria Athens Cafe Restaurant 55% 10
NY Auburn Kim's Trackside Tavern Tavern 25% Our local cayuga county health dept. continues to refuse to issue smoking waivers to businesses who have suffered a financial hardship.
NY Bath Hotel McDonald Hotel 70%
NY Bath Just One More Tavern 30%
NY Bellerose Finish Line Bar/Restaurant 40%
NY Binghamton Airport Inn Tavern 40% Evans says business has dropped at least 40-percent in the last year. Her liquor license expires next April, and she says, she doesn't plan on renewing it. The Airport Inn was a successful business for 18 years.
NY Binghamton Edigan's Restaurant Closed 100%
NY Binghamton Mama Lena's Restaurant Closed 100% Mama Lena's had been in business for more than 40 years.
NY Binghamton Yesterday's Restaurant & Lounge Closed 100%
NY Brewster The Roadhouse Tavern 40%
NY Broadalbin The Lodge at the Lake Inc Bar/Restaurant 50%
NY Bronx Fieldstone Recreation Billiard/Bar/Snacks 40%
NY Buffalo American Legion Post 1041 Bingo Hall 68%
NY Buffalo Amherst Bowling Center Bowling Alley Closed 100%
NY Buffalo B&G Bar and Grill Bar/Restaurant 30%
NY Buffalo Cabaret Tavern 40%
NY Buffalo Cook Bar & Grill Bar/Restaurant 40% 2
NY Buffalo Freddies Bar/Restaurant 50%
NY Buffalo Pocketeer Billiards Pool Hall 60-70% "The President says small business is the backbone of our country, NYS says screw small business just give us your money and your blood! All of it!!!!!!
NY Buffalo Susie's Corner Bar/Restaurant 23% 1
NY Buffalo The Royal Pheasant Restaurant Closed 100% The smoking ban caused an instant 80 percent decrease in revenue. The Royal Phesant had been a family business for 58 years.
NY Buffalo Voelker Bowling Center Bowling Alley 30-40% The smoking ban hit us like an anvil, curtailing bowling activity by 30 to 40 percent and the bar business by 20 to 30 percent.
NY Camden Harter's Bar/Restaurant 40%
NY Camden Liberty Lanes Bowling 27%
NY Canandaigua Canandaigua Billiards Pool Hall 40%
NY Champlain Stumble Inn Tavern Closed 100%
NY Cheektowaga Metropolitan Restaurant Bar/Restaurant 25%
NY Cheektowaga Peter K's Bar/Restaurant 35%
NY Chestnut Ridge Silo's Bar & Grill 35%
NY Cicero Damon's Party House Tavern 40%
NY Clay Richard's Ole Timer Bar/Restaurant 17%
NY Cold Brook Clifford's Tavern Bar/Restaurant 40%
NY Corfu Dadio's Central Tavern 30%
NY Cortland Argyle's EasyStreet Tavern Tavern 12%
NY Cotati Friar Tuck's Restaurant 50% "Just as my establishment was beginning to flourish, I'm hit with this smoking ban which has killed my daytime business. People who used to stay for a couple of hours now only stay for one quick drink and leave."
NY Delhi Blinkey's Tavern Closed 100%
NY East Randolph VFW Post 6533 Private Club 20%
NY Elmira Heights American Legion Private Club 60%
NY Elmira Heights Blondie's Tavern Tavern 25%
NY Endicott O's Place Tavern Closed 100% 100%
NY Endwell O's Place Closed 100% 100%
NY Falconer Chances Tavern Closed 100% 100%
NY Falconer Mel's Place Tavern 78% 100% After proving they had lost significant business, Mel's place was granted one of NY's few waivers. Their business immediately returned to the pre ban level, but the owners are worried about what will happen when the waiver runs out in a year.
NY Fredonia Barker Brew Pub Brew Pub Closed 100% Closed after 10 yrs. in business
NY Frewsburg The Loft Tavern 30% "Our town has no attractions to draw in outsiders. We have only locals to rely on as patrons and 95% of them smoke. It will be worse when the snow sets in."
NY Fulton Fulton Ale House Tavern 25%
NY Goshen The Wonderbar Tavern 50%
NY Hyde Park KayCey's Tavern 45%
NY Ithica Bowl-O-Drome Bowling Alley 14% 2 TThe business lost almost $30,000 and 110 bowlers during the 32-week league season... In the bowling alley's busiest months between January and May, Parkin saw a 14 percent decrease in activity comparing the same period in 2004 to 2003.
NY Jackson Heights La Bataclana Tavern Closed 100%
NY Jamestown Coin Operated Amusements Vending Machines 20-50% Revenue from vending machines and games cut in half in many places.
NY Jamestown Elks Lodge (Private Club) Private Club Closed 100% Bingo, which funded their charitable work, is now completely shut down.
NY Jamestown Fountain Bowl Bowling Alley 40%
NY Jamestown Mr. D's Bar/Restaurant Closed 100%
NY Jamestown Patsy's Lounge Tavern 50% / 2 "I have let 2 employees go and the other 3 have had their hours cut in half."
NY Jamestown Tommy's Place Bar/Restaurant Closed 100%
NY Jamestown Windsor Ale House Tavern Closed 100%
NY Johnstown Partner's Pub Bar/Restaurant 20% 1
NY Kennedy Crossroads Steak House Restaurant Closed 100%
NY Lakewood Ye Olde Anchor Inn Bar/Restaurant 18% 22%
NY Liverpool End Zone Bar/Restaurant 30% 1
This is only a partial list, of 172 businesses, 36 closed their doors for good
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