Send your letters to: Letters@CoolCleveland.com
On Summit County's indoor smoking ban (See Summit County bans smoking here) Way to go Summit County! Let's hope it goes state wide VERY soon. Enough of smelling like smoke and ingesting that crap every time I go to hear my favorite blues bands!
from Cool Cleveland reader Bruce Hicks bwh1ATadelphia.net
I've been to bars in both Manhattan and California this year. It was wonderful being able to enjoy a drink or two with friends and actually being able to enjoying breathing at the same time. No jockeying away from smokers or holding my breath periodically or having to wash smoky clothes afterwards. Not that I conducted a scientific poll but in California both of my friends were smokers. They went outside periodically to take a puff but otherwise seemed "undiscommoded" by the situation. It's too bad Cuyahoga County hasn't done the same. Certainly one reason I don't go to bars or clubs as much is due to the smoke. So they are losing my business now.
from Cool Cleveland reader David K. Ream DaveReamATLevTechInc.com
As a former Clevelander and someone who doesn’t smoke, I completely agree with the smoking ban. We were in town last weekend visiting and we went to see some friends play at a bar on the West Side. Everyone complained about the bar smoke….we don’t have smoking in bars here in Arlington Virginia. It makes a big difference and it may be good for your business, not bad for it. Hey club owners, think of your lungs, your customers’ lungs and the lungs of your employees!!
from Cool Cleveland reader Bob Rabatsky, Arlington, VA bobATfintrac.com
I think this is great!! I wish the entire state of Ohio (or at least Cuyahoga County) would do this. I do know that I will be making my way from Beachwood to frequent various bars and restaurants. And for all of the restaurant and bar owners who are bitching about all of the smokers going elsewhere to dine or drink...... did you ever bother to think about all of the NON-smokers who will become regular patrons at a non-smoking establishment? I've turned into something of a home-body because I hate going out for a drink and coming home with my clothes and hair reeking of smoke. Nevermind the health consequences. And with all of these people whining about losing the smokers as patrons.... smokers only make up approximately 25-30 percent of the population. Why do they get to dictate how the other 70-75 percent of us live?
from Cool Cleveland reader Christina Ross
I couldn't disagree more!!!!! All the reasons stated for a smoking ban are indeed a big plus. However, I just cannot agree with the government banning a LEGAL activity in MY bar or restaurant if I owned one. Let each individual place decide for itself. A wholesale ban seems somehow VERY un-American to me. Property owners, not the government should decide their own fate.
from Cool Cleveland reader Rick Pouliot Clevefan from Cincy rpouliotATfuse.net
As an owner of a small, independent coffee house on Cleveland's west-side, I full heartedly oppose an indoor smoking ban. It's a tough market out there. One of the few commercial adavntages that I can offer (as opposed to out of town chains with bottomless pockets for advertising, etc) is the fact that someone can come into my shop and enjoy a smoke with their coffee. I make concessions for non-smokers. There is a smoking and non-smoking section. I try to keep the smoke out of the non-smoking section as best as I can (we have a very loud exhaust fan in the smoking section for when it gets too smoky). Many coffee-house's do not allwow smoking. We do. As such, we have people who come out of their way to hang out at our shop. I have had people tell me that they really like our shop but they do not come in as often as they might because we have smoking. That's fine. I can respect that. That is their decision. I have more people who either come to the shop because they CAN smoke, or really don't give a damn either way. That is their decision. Whether to allow people to smoke in the shop is MY decision. If people are serious about avoiding smoke, please go to any of the other coffee-house's that do not allow it. The same holds true for bars and restaurants. If you dislike it. Don't go there. Better yet, put YOUR money where your mouth is and open your own eating or drinking establishment that is non-smoking. If there are tons of people who are looking for this service - they will happily patronize your establishment and you will be a major success. If you are successful, look for more people to follow suit. That's what this whole free-market capitalism thing is all about right? (No, I'm not a Republican, thank you). If, however, you don't want to open your own space because you think the bars that allow smoking will be busier - well, you've disproved your own point. Also, don't feed me the "Oh think of the servers...." line. 90% of the people who work in food-service smoke. Ask them sometime. For those servers that don't want to deal with it, get a job in a non-smoking establishment. They do exist. As far as it goes, I do think this ban will eventually happen. It will hit me hard. My shop is on Detroit Ave. As urban as it gets. We have this shop where we do because we believe in the potential of our neighborhood. A neighborhood I grew up in. I want to see good things happen there. I've put my money where my mouth is and am trying to make a difference. If the ban hits, I won't be able to accommodate smokers at all because, frankly, I've got no place to put a patio. Maybe if I was in a suburban shopping plaza I could, but guess what? I chose to open in a storefront in the city. Not in Cracker Park or Legacy Village or some other lame place like that. Oops, there goes a huge chunk of my business. Oops, perhaps the city can have yet another abandoned store front. Thank you very much those of you who claim to want to see "hip" businesses like mine in the city. Hipster hypocrites.
from Cool Cleveland reader Keith Kornajck Gustav121ATaol.com
We've submitted petitions to the state to put non-smoking on the ballot for fall 2006. We now need everyone's support by writing your local newspaper and state officials to support the non-smoking effort. Everyone's letter helps. Some facts that can be stated in your letter are:On Smoke Out Day the press conference stated such statistics as 34% increase in strokes for smokers, sitting in a smoky bar for 2 hours equals smoking 4 cigarettes,children have twice the level of continine in their blood that adults do(cotinine is found in the blood of someone who smokes or has been exposed to smoke), second hand smoke kills 53,000 nonsmokers each year,and bar and restaurant workers have the right to working in a smoke free environment.
from Cool Cleveland reader Pat Kitzel, NE Ohio Smoke Free, trishkitATnetzero.net
On Downtown storefronts (See Your ideas for Downtown storefronts here) The use of storefront windows to present the visual arts creates a wonderful opportunity to showcase local artists downtown where people can easily see their work. While cities like Pittsburgh have made a large investment in their local artists, Cleveland lags behind. By having a downtown presence, people will become more aware of the vibrant cultural scene that is normally found at SPACES and MOCA - spots that are difficult for Clevelanders to get to during the work day. How great would it be to pass windows showcasing cutting edge contemporary work while getting a quick bite to eat while on lunch break?
from Cool Cleveland reader Ted Cowan theodorecowanATmac.com
On Roldo (See Yr Turn here) Clipped from today's (11/23/05) column: (On Roldo You have created a space where Clevelanders can share their ideas and take joy in being a Clevelander. That said, I am confused why you give Roldo a place to make his polarized and out-dated commentaries. Even as a liberal democrat, I find his stances are often close-minded and do not take into account the realities of Cleveland... I don't understand why you allow his views to be part of CoolCleveland. While I do not expect any action on your part, I do ask that exclude his commentaries from your weekly newsletters. PS Thanks for caring about Cleveland and keep up the good work! from Cool Cleveland reader Joel Wimbiscus jwimbiscusAThotmail.com) Let me understand this a little better: let's share everybody's ideas except Roldo's. And maybe some other ideas that I don't like, because I've labeled myself a liberal democrat. Joel: take a minute to listen to yourself. And welcome back to Cleveland: we need a few more liberal democrats to tell us what we should not be reading. How else would we know?
from Cool Cleveland reader Bob Chalfant RChalfantATbmwlt.net
On Kucinich and Cheney (See Kucinich calls Cheney on carpet here) As an ex-patriot of the city of Cleveland I have enjoyed subscribing to Cool Cleveland. It helps me keep tabs on the comings and goings off a city that I still call home. You recent remarks about Dennis Kucinich crossed a line I had hoped you would not cross. To endorse his conspiracy theories to to relegate Cool Cleveland to the tin foilt hat wearing crowd. I am not going to argue the merits of the war in Iraq, nor am I going to fully rehash the intelligence that went into the decision to go to war. All I will say is, that is that if you think Bush/Cheney were lying then Clinton must have been lying too. Please go to Google and type in this search string: Clinton Iraq 1998. It will be most enlightening as to where not just Bush/Cheney who felt that Sadam was out to get weapons of mass destruction. But even that is the main point of why I am writing. I am writing to say that it would be nice if you would confine yourself to those topics that relate to cool Cleveland’s mission. Interjecting yourself into important and controversial subjects will only serve to alienate some portion of your readership. Is that your goal?
from Cool Cleveland reader Charles Hall, Columbia, South Carolina Hall46junkAThotmail.com
On Cleveland's Innerbelt Bridge & ODOT (See Signature bridge still in jeopardy here) The Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) has an obligation to Cleveland, its citizens and visitors in regards to the redesign of the innerbelt curve, the access ramps to point east and into the city center, and especially the unique opportunity to correct a great dis-service that was done when it was first built. Clevelanders and others in this region need to demand that the innerbelt be covered up (tunneled) so as to bridge the dividing gap created so many years ago. It will help remedy the concerns of business owners regarding the location of ramps and access to their areas of operation. This will also allow the building of an extensive park area with pedestrian as well as bicycle access from the lake to Tremont and other areas south and west. This new green space would be most inviting for businesses to locate nearby as well as real estate developers to consider building residential units, stimulating the resurgence of Cleveland's old neighborhoods east of the innerbelt. Specifically, the new covered area east of Cleveland State University could be developed into sports and open theater fields, freeing up existing land to allow building of "state of the art" facilities for education and innovation. ODOT would accomplish their safety and improved traffic pattern goals and would earn many accolades by incorporating urban planning that significantly contributes to the rebirth of Cleveland as a striving residential as well as innovative business and technology center.
from Cool Cleveland reader Ray Saikus, Citizen Vision, http://www.CitizensVision.org, rrsATcitizensvision.org
On holiday donations I am contacting you to ask that you remind the readers of Cool Cleveland that they may be able to double their donations to non-profit arts and culture venues through matching gift programs sponsored by their employers. If the employer has such a program, the employee should ask what organizations are eligible for the match and if their favorite is not on the list how can they be added. The process is usually simple and the additional funding support can only strengthen the arts and culture scene. As the Director of Marketing and Development for Clague Playhouse (a volunteer position for this non-profit community theater in Westlake) I can tell you that only a portion of our operations are covered by ticket sales. We, like most other non-profits, rely on donations to fund the difference. Each matching gift we receive helps us reduce the budget needed for fund raising and is often used to continue bringing the high level of quality productions our area is known for. In my previous real life job I had the opportunity to experience the arts and culture scenes of many cities in the U.S. I can tell you without hesitation that Cleveland has some of the finest talent and best venues in the country. But, our support both as an audience and financially does not do them justice. As the end of the year approaches now is an excellent time to use the matching gift program offered by your employer and donate to your favorite non-profit arts venue. If you can not make a donation, attend a show or volunteer. The more we get involved the better.
from Cool Cleveland reader Keith B. Keller kbkellerATsbcglobal.net
On Cool Cleveland (See This week, thankfully... here) Anyone who says "there's nothing going on in this town" is either stupid or lazy.
from Cool Cleveland reader William Walker WWalkerATINVENT.ORG
I think what you're doing is great. The City of Cleveland needs more leaders like yourself. I'm sure that your efforts are inspiring others. I like staying connected with your newsletter. I am a Cleveland transplant living in South Florida, hoping to make it back one day.
from Cool Cleveland reader Brian Talbot briantalbot71ATmsn.com
Send your letters to: Letters@CoolCleveland.com (:divend:)