Ban on the smoking ban??

Welcome to the Allegheny County, wherein lies the erstwhile city of Pittsburgh, PA

Last week, the county council (a largely unnecessary legislative body) passed a county-wide ban on smoking in workplaces. Opposition from restaurants and bars was brushed aside by dissing their argument – which was that the ban would create an unfair advantage to restaurants and bars outside of the county, where no such ban exists (or probably ever will in SWPA).

This week, the county executive (love the business friendly title? Don’t be fooled) is threatening to veto the ban. It seems that the State Senate just amended the fledgling gambling law to ALLOW smoking in state casinos. The executive’s argument – the casinos would enjoy an unfair advantage over the other bars and restaurants in the county (as if the slot machines do not already provide said advantage)!!

County government needs to get its story straight – either the ban creates an unfair advantage, or it doesn’t!!