Looks like the BAR has approved the 9 story building with lots of pedestrian stuff in the complex. That all sounds great, but will there be a single place that bans smoking for outdoor patrons?
I noticed at the Short Pump Mall that no smoking is allowed within the confines of the outdoor pedestrian mall. This mall is basically in Richmond, and yet it has no smoking. Could such a thing ever happen here, or are people just in love with their cigs here in the village?
I went running in our 90+ weather earlier tonite and inhaled about a pack on a short run. Virginia is for lovers…of cigarettes. Heat never stops them. Cold never stops them. And I’ll bet they can smoke all over a tall (9 story) building in a single bound.
The Short Pump Mall is privately-owned; they’re free to ban smoking. The Charlottesville Downtown Mall is public property. State law does not permit smoking to be banned. If you’d like to change that law, I encourage you to write your representatives, Del. David Toscano and Sen. Creigh Deeds, and let them know how you feel.
I’ve explained all of this to you before. I can’t imagine why you persist in pretending that Charlottesville simply stubbornly refuses to ban smoking in smoking places.
Closet smoker?
When businesses pay money to the city to get space on the mall, is that land considered public space? It seems to me the village controls that space and should just write it in to the vendor license.
Now, is it legal for the city to say that the US is wrong about Iraq. I seem to recall they passed some such statement.
The village is basically a slave to this big commonwealth, and it has no say over what happens. Go growth. Plow down the village. Yes, baby, yes. Then a business will own this dump and they can ban smoking. Just like at the lovely Short Pump Mall.
If this city had any backbone they would create a non-profit private company that manages the mall, and bans all smoking. Oh wait, smoking is our state passion. Puff, hack, death. The village terrorists continue to kill.
When private groups rented the old amphitheatre they controlled it and were free to prohibit all kinds of activities. I remember well a July Fourth when Uriah Fields was prohibited from singing The Battle Hymn of the Republic in front of City Hall because the space had been rented by a private group for a Fourth of July celebration. Private control could be used to ban smoking and I think your idea of a private non-profit is worth looking at but I really, really, doubt that the control freaks in City Hall would even want to consider the idea.
I had become kind of unaware of how many people do smoke. Your bitchy ranting has caused me to take notice and, DAMN there are a lot of idiots puffing that crap and eventually they’ll end up regretting it. At UVa hospital I am constantly amazed at the number of overweight people headed for the smoking area (at a hospital!) after they’ve gorged themselves on fried grease in the hospital caFATeria.
At UVa hospital I am constantly amazed at the number of overweight people headed for the smoking area (at a hospital!) after they’ve gorged themselves on fried grease in the hospital caFATeria.
That also amazes me. The FAT part goes well with the grade of D by Virginia schools for their menus.
Regarding CaFATeria’s in the UK - and very young chef, Jamie Oliver, has contracted with their government to put better foods for lunches in the schools - not fat re-constituted crap. Look into if if you are interested - it he is trying to make a difference - has been to Canada and NYC and the word is apparently spreading… who knows?
http://www.channel4.com/life/microsites/J/jamies_school_dinners/index.html