Dr. Councilwoman
I thought once we got the choo choo, we'd be a world-class city.
But apparently the journey to world-class status isn't complete.
How else to explain Shelley Sekula Gibbs's decision to push a smoking ban on the city?
One would think the city's poor financial position, crumbling infrastructure, pension mess, police officer retirements that are outpacing replacements, and a whole host of other serious problems would be enough for council to tackle. But one would be wrong.
I don't have anything to add to Laurence Simon's assessment. I do like his nickname Dr. Councilwoman, though. I'm adopting that.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 08/18/04 21:42 | Houston | Technorati
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You know, I was *just* bragging on Houston as being one of the few large cities not to have seriously contemplated such a matter. I'm sure in the back of my mind I wondered "Why not?" since it's what all the other kids are doing. I guess they just couldn't resist.
Posted by R. Alex @ 07:17 on 08/19/04
Heard Dr. Councilwoman on the radio with Edd Hendee (she is visiting not-smoke-free Athens) and she said something along this line: Houston will want to try for the Olympics again someday, and a smoking-ban would help make Houston a more appealing city.
I was only half listening, but I think that's close to what she said.
Posted by Anne @ 08:40 on 08/19/04
The problem with Houston's world-classness is that we're always playing catch-up. Light rail? Dallas already has it. Smoking bans? Someone beat us to the punch on that one too. It seems clear to me that if we're ever going to gain the respect of the international communtiy, we need to contemplate some sort of Bold Action.
I am not aware of any major city that has streets paved in gold. Since Heaven is rumored to have such paving, I think its safe to say that if Houston were to likewise furnish her citizens and visitors with gilded avenues, it might get us closer to being annointed a world class city far sooner than a silly, imitative, anti-market and depressingly common smoking ban.
I suggest we engage in spirited public debate on this matter as a prelude to a bond vote.
Posted by Michael Morgan @ 08:46 on 08/19/04
Anne: You have to be KIDDING me?!
It IS the world-class argument!
Dr. Councilwoman is a nitwit.
Posted by Kevin @ 08:47 on 08/19/04
Not kidding! Which, of course, doesn't explain how Athens was awarded (or cursed with, depending on your POV) the Olympics, since the populace there are veritable smokestacks.
NYC has a smoking ban (which has worked out really well for its citizens) and we can find out next year if that smoking ban is helpful to earning the right to stick a city's citizens with billions of dollars of debt. Oh sorry. I meant the privlege of hosting the games that bring "people together in peace to respect universal moral principles."
Gilded avenues? What a great idea! And no cigarette butts to litter them either. Talk about a win-win.
Posted by Anne @ 09:19 on 08/19/04
Anne: Veritable smokestacks isn't an exaggeration. Still. They smoke like chimneys, have pollution that puts us to shame, but blame Chernobyl for their skyrocketing rates of lung cancer. There might be a connection; the increase might have something to do with Chernobyl, but the fact that everyone and his dog smokes everywhere might not be doing much to keep the rates in check.
Strangely, the last time I was in country, I had a strange conversation with a young boy who thought it was mighty curious that the "free" U.S. had so many restrictions as to vices and activities (oh...the list he recited...every point was prefaced with the phrase...I think it is stupid that in the U.S. etc etc). So much for world-class. If the little neighborhood socialist boy found these limitations disconcerting way back then, I wonder how this debate contributes to our world-classness.
Posted by callie @ 14:16 on 08/20/04
I've put together a site to discuss this issue and support the "pro-smoking"/"pro-business" side at http://www.houstonsmokingba... Please visit and comment, whichever side you're on.
Posted by filtrs @ 20:41 on 08/27/04
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