Smoky and the Ban It
Smoking Ordinance Diverts DFW Traffic
Beau Lyon
Issue date: 2/14/07 Section: News
Dallas announced January 23, 2007 that smoking in public areas will be prohibited. The list includes libraries, hospitals, schools, theaters, museums, and transit system vehicles.
The ban still allows for plenty of smoking in all the usual places: bars, tobacco shops, and pool halls. No surprise adding tobacco shops to this list.
As the dust cleared two weeks ago, and the smoke rose, the University of Dallas campus, being staunchly conservative and therefore un-open to change, reacted how one might expect in light of the new smoking ordinance: no differently. The university still needs its fix of nicotine and continues to engage in one of its most sacred rituals. If things continue at this pace, DFW air traffic control will soon be redirecting flights to avoid the campus.
"There's no question in my mind that a smoking ban will drive more restaurant businesses to the suburbs. That will mean fewer jobs in Dallas… that will mean less tax revenue from the alcoholic beverage tax and sales tax coming into the city's coffers," University of North Texas economist Bud Weinstein said.
Yes, business remains the same at the University of Dallas. In fact, one UD student conjectured, " It makes me want to smoke more." Although removing the health implications from such a statement presents a moral issue, it embodies the sentiments around campus. For a campus shuffling about the Core's stringent requirements, smoking will remain an uncontested component of the university's character.
The ban prohibits smoking 25 feet from all doorways. This will ultimately designate only the center portion of the mall to smokers. March 1, enjoy!
The ban still allows for plenty of smoking in all the usual places: bars, tobacco shops, and pool halls. No surprise adding tobacco shops to this list.
As the dust cleared two weeks ago, and the smoke rose, the University of Dallas campus, being staunchly conservative and therefore un-open to change, reacted how one might expect in light of the new smoking ordinance: no differently. The university still needs its fix of nicotine and continues to engage in one of its most sacred rituals. If things continue at this pace, DFW air traffic control will soon be redirecting flights to avoid the campus.
"There's no question in my mind that a smoking ban will drive more restaurant businesses to the suburbs. That will mean fewer jobs in Dallas… that will mean less tax revenue from the alcoholic beverage tax and sales tax coming into the city's coffers," University of North Texas economist Bud Weinstein said.
Yes, business remains the same at the University of Dallas. In fact, one UD student conjectured, " It makes me want to smoke more." Although removing the health implications from such a statement presents a moral issue, it embodies the sentiments around campus. For a campus shuffling about the Core's stringent requirements, smoking will remain an uncontested component of the university's character.
The ban prohibits smoking 25 feet from all doorways. This will ultimately designate only the center portion of the mall to smokers. March 1, enjoy!
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