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HAZELWOOD, MO (KTVI - FOX2now.com) -
On Tuesday, voters will decide whether St. Louis County is going smoke free. The campaigns "for" and "against" Propostion "N", the proposed smoking ban in St. Louis County, went down to the wire Monday night. Approval of the ban would "kick-start" a ban already approved in the City of St. Louis. Aldermen made the city's ban contingent upon passage in St. Louis County.
Hazelwood Bowl has become a sort "ground zero" of the Prop "N" resistance movement. Signs were everywhere, urging "no" votes; with regular reminders about the Tuesday's election coming over the loudspeakers.
"It's not that we're condoning smoking but the fact that this is not putting us on a level playing field," said Tom Shucart, the president of the Bowling Propietors Association. "We feel it's an unfair proposition that has loopholes and exemptions."
The people on the other side of the issue were out in force, too. It was 'honk 'em, if you don't smoke 'em', from Midtown to Creve Coeur. Supporters of the smoking ban blanketed five intersections during rush hour. Their confidence grew with every beep, given the expected low voter turnout of 25% or less.
"15% and we'll be doing good," said Charlie Gatton of County Citizens for Clean Air. "It makes every vote count. So we're hoping our supporters will come out and take the 30 seconds or so it takes to vote."
St. Louis University Medical School student, Sarah Kuehnle, who was holding a sign of support at I-44 and Lafayette, said St. Louis was ready to join the trend and go smoke free.
"Absolutely, all of Illinois is, and other countries like Ireland and spain, so absolutely," she said.
Not so fast. The resistance movement gathered at Hazelwood Bowl saw and heard constant reminders of the looming vote.
"We at Hazelwood Bowl would appreciate your support. We're asking you to vote 'no'," the announcement over the loudspeakers said.
The ban would leave out casinos and bars where food sales were less than 25% of business. It hardly seemed fair at Hazelwood Bowl, where Vince Rembold of St. Charles County, said he'd been bowling and smoking for more than 25 years.
"I can't vote in St. Louis County," Rembold said. "But I'm asking friends to do it and family. I'm going to call my mom in a minute and ask her to vote, even though she's a non-smoker. She does live in Florissant, and have my sister vote and my niece vote."
If approved, the bans would take effect in 2011, giving businesses a full year to prepare.
Also on the ballot is Proposition E-911 which proposes a tax hike that would raise $16 million to replace aging emergency response equipment, including updating 9-1-1 systems so that cell phone users could be easily located. St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Bob McCulloch and dozens of other law enforcement and emergency officials are urging voters to approve Proposition E-911.
Hazelwood Bowl has become a sort "ground zero" of the Prop "N" resistance movement. Signs were everywhere, urging "no" votes; with regular reminders about the Tuesday's election coming over the loudspeakers.
"It's not that we're condoning smoking but the fact that this is not putting us on a level playing field," said Tom Shucart, the president of the Bowling Propietors Association. "We feel it's an unfair proposition that has loopholes and exemptions."
The people on the other side of the issue were out in force, too. It was 'honk 'em, if you don't smoke 'em', from Midtown to Creve Coeur. Supporters of the smoking ban blanketed five intersections during rush hour. Their confidence grew with every beep, given the expected low voter turnout of 25% or less.
"15% and we'll be doing good," said Charlie Gatton of County Citizens for Clean Air. "It makes every vote count. So we're hoping our supporters will come out and take the 30 seconds or so it takes to vote."
St. Louis University Medical School student, Sarah Kuehnle, who was holding a sign of support at I-44 and Lafayette, said St. Louis was ready to join the trend and go smoke free.
"Absolutely, all of Illinois is, and other countries like Ireland and spain, so absolutely," she said.
Not so fast. The resistance movement gathered at Hazelwood Bowl saw and heard constant reminders of the looming vote.
"We at Hazelwood Bowl would appreciate your support. We're asking you to vote 'no'," the announcement over the loudspeakers said.
The ban would leave out casinos and bars where food sales were less than 25% of business. It hardly seemed fair at Hazelwood Bowl, where Vince Rembold of St. Charles County, said he'd been bowling and smoking for more than 25 years.
"I can't vote in St. Louis County," Rembold said. "But I'm asking friends to do it and family. I'm going to call my mom in a minute and ask her to vote, even though she's a non-smoker. She does live in Florissant, and have my sister vote and my niece vote."
If approved, the bans would take effect in 2011, giving businesses a full year to prepare.
Also on the ballot is Proposition E-911 which proposes a tax hike that would raise $16 million to replace aging emergency response equipment, including updating 9-1-1 systems so that cell phone users could be easily located. St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Bob McCulloch and dozens of other law enforcement and emergency officials are urging voters to approve Proposition E-911.
