| Libertarian Party of NY -- Press Release -- Libertarians Mourn Bar Extinguished By Smoking Ban |
LIBERTARIANS MOURN BAR EXTINGUISHED BY SMOKING BAN
Bellport, NY- 2/10/04: NY Libertarians mourn The Web, a tavern in upstate Ogdensburg hit by $4000 in smoking ban fines which the owners, Anthony and Janet Doerr, cannot pay. They will close and leave the state if their appeal fails. “This shows that the smoking ban proponents are wrong when they claim that their scheme will boost business,” contends Richard Cooper, a former Libertarian Party of New York State Chair and coordinator of the party’s Can the Ban drive. Cooper urges contributions on behalf of the Doerrs to go to The Web, 18 Lost Village Road, Ogdensburg, NY 13669.
The Doerrs built The Web themselves in a barn on their property only a year and a half ago. Janet Doerr, a smoker, tends bar while her husband Anthony works full time days as a store manager and in the bar nights. Because they fought their $2000 fine, they had it bumped up to $4000. She says “I’ve been fighting. They are trying to shut me up.” Ogdensburg Libertarian activist Lee Monnet says “It’s a shame that New Yorkers are penalized for defending their rights.”
Libertarian State Chair John Clifton, a nonsmoking social worker and former drug abuse counselor, rejects the ban. “The statewide restaurant ban on smoking is a blow to free choice for all New Yorkers, whether they smoke or not.”
Libertarians are seeking petition signatures to repeal the smoking bans. The petition, authored by Cooper, reads “We the undersigned, whether smokers or non-smokers, agree with the Libertarian Party that bans on smoking in restaurants and bars should be overturned. Bar and restaurant owners should have the right to decide whether to permit smoking or not on their property. The public has the right to choose whether or not to patronize or work there. The government should not interfere with their choices.” –30-
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