City leaders weigh health and economic impacts of casino smoking ban
The ongoing debate surrounding the proposed smoking ban in casinos and bars has sparked a deep conversation among city leaders, particularly regarding the potential exemption for casinos. A key city leader has expressed a nuanced position as they weigh personal experiences with health and the broader economic implications of the legislation.
Reflecting on their own family history, the leader shared that both their mother and father succumbed to cancer, a reality that shapes their perspective on public health. Having also faced a personal health scare with skin cancer, the leader empathizes with constituents who worry about the effects of smoke in public spaces, particularly in places like casinos which attract significant foot traffic.
However, the topic is not solely about health. The economic ramifications of a smoking ban are equally pressing. With concerns about revenue loss, the city leader acknowledges the delicate balance between public health advocacy and the business interests of casinos. This balancing act is crucial, as casinos play a significant role in the local economy, and the leader has committed to carefully evaluate all aspects of the proposed ban.
Input from constituents has been paramount in this decision-making process. The leader is actively gathering feedback, listening to calls and emails from the community to ensure their decision reflects the will of the people. This engagement demonstrates a commitment to transparency and responsiveness to public sentiment.
In addressing the complexities of this issue, the leader noted a previous agreement with local casino operators that included consideration of a potential smoking ban. The uncertainty created by these discussions emphasizes the leader's need to proceed cautiously. The implications of the ban are far-reaching, not only for the casinos but for the community at large.
Additionally, there's notable pressure from anti-smoking advocates, adding another layer of complexity to the decision. The leader acknowledged this dynamic, which can lead to conflicting interests among stakeholders. While it’s clear that advocacy groups are eager for a smoking ban, the leader has not engaged in discussions with casino executives, allowing constituent voices to guide their conclusion rather than outside influence.
Ultimately, as the city prepares for the council vote, this leader’s approach underscores a serious commitment to both public health and economic viability. The balance between safeguarding community health and supporting local businesses requires thoughtful consideration and a dedication to engaging with constituents. This situation illuminates the need for leaders to navigate difficult conversations, as their decisions impact not just revenue but the health and well-being of the community they serve.
Transcript
Note: This is an auto-generated transcript from YouTube. Please be aware that there may be spelling or transcription errors.
grayson let me switch gears to the smoking ordinance on the agenda on tuesday um the smoking ban for the casinos and bars where are you on that issue now are you going to vote to give the casinos an exemption you know i don't know where i'm at like i told you two days ago i'm i'm still getting data that i wanted to see you know i think that the point is for me you know it's real easy um to have a stance on something and i see both sides my mother died of one cancer three years ago three and a half years ago um my dad died of cancer 12 years ago so i see i mean i just had a a pretty nasty skin cancer removed from my lip and i've never smoked a day in my life but so i understand everybody's um concern about this but i also understand the concern of losing that revenue and i know that sounds kind of harsh but but it's real easy to take a stance whenever you're the one that's not responsible for it and i have to as a leader of the city weigh all the options and look at it but no i have not made a 100 decision on which direction i'm going to go i'm still gathering data to this day i'm still getting emails i'm still getting calls i'm still listening to constituents and i think that's what what my job is is to listen to my constituents and gather the data and make the best decision for the city you have to take into account i hope you will that bali's came in and agreed to buy that property knowing full well a smoking ban was coming you have to weigh that i hope you're you're thinking about that yes of course of course i am aaron but i'm also weighing this you know i think you you raised the question to me in a conversation the other day why are you changing your mind and and my comment was at the city council meeting i've gone back and listened to it that that you know we want to work with the casinos but this is it you know if you don't work with us this time then then this is over with you know it it's going to happen my concern is whenever we started this and i was i was in the start of this with councilwoman fuller and and councilman nicholson we met with the bossier guys we had uh it was april the 1st 2019 we went to little italiano and then we went through access it's on my facebook page and we talked about this and we felt like we had bozier as a buy-in on this with us uh that fell apart then whenever uh this was readdressed and and i was really not one of the ones that sponsored the legislation as much i think i was on there but but you know whenever we did this back in may of last year um there were a lot of things that that played into that decision and you know i looked back and the diamond jacks casino shut down and i know you said on the radio the other day that these licenses are coveted but we've got the 15th license sitting over there that hadn't been used for a year so it concerns me i mean it really does concern me that that these boats can pull out now i've heard i've gotten emails my colleagues have gotten emails uh from from several constituents saying that we're being pressured by the by the gambling absolutely not that is that is that is untrue uh i have had not one conversation with a casino executive uh i have not had one conversation with any of those guys that stood there and spoke at the last city council meeting i just listened to what they told me at the city council meeting so i'm still i'm still trying to weigh all the all the ramifications of the vote um and uh you know that's that's all i can do as an elected official are you getting pressure from the anti-smoking crowd absolutely absolutely uh so much uh and and you know talking to a few of my colleagues uh and i'm not going to speak for them but i think you're you're well aware of what's going on and yes we we are and it's been um it hasn't been uh a lot of fun from from what the anti-smoking group is doing and um it bothers me in fact one of the groups that i've donated to for several years i stopped donating to them the other day just due to the fact of the pressure and it's real funny you know the people that are out here talking about this you know um anyway it it's just i i won't go any further but yeah it is grayson if someone were to come before the council tuesday to speak about this and were to light up a cigarette while standing in front of you i'd throw her in the clink what's gonna happen aaron i heard your comment i don't like you blowing smoke in my face necessarily like you said you would do um well but you're there look i'm a libertarian aaron and uh if you want to light up a cigarette in government plaza if it's illegal it's illegal that's nothing i can do about it but i'm not going to say have that woman removed you know absolutely not so taser would tasing her be off the table though just asking for a friend um it might be comical but yeah it would be anyway but but look you know you know you do it you got it you do what you feel like you've got to do uh but i do i would draw the line of getting in into my personal space and blowing into my face but it's not because of the smoke it's because i'm a real germ freak so yeah you know he won't even shake hands you know i am i won't i fist bump still so well but no i i you do what you feel like you've got to do aaron but but i will say this this is something that i am taking very serious it's something that that has touched my heart on both ends and you know i can only do what i feel is right just like we all can
More From News Radio 710 KEEL
