Selling short

Of course there is no proof of this, nor will there ever be; but for every political action, there is usually a political reaction.

I'd heard rumors earlier but decided to wait to see if it was true; Marci Dodds' first act as a council member was to sign off on cancelling a study session on the smoke-free ordinance. Some backbone.

Like I say, there's no proof, and of course there is no quid-pro quo, but if (only speculating here, you understand) IF that was the price for the votes that finally got Dodds elected to the District 4 seat, Mayor Smokey sold himself short. I really think he could have gotten something a bit more substantive. It was just a study session proposal, Smokey; it ain't gonna go away. People who count these things say there are probably 5 votes right now for the proposal. But there is NO proof. Just speculation.

The sadder part of this, though, was how easily and quickly Dodds appears to have agreed to the action. Sad.

Mayor Smokey now thinks/hopes the smoking ordinance has disappeared in a puff of smoke. I really doubt it.

Champaign American says the fight isn't over, and on this issue the Old Guy's along for the ride.

Mayor Smokey and bar and restaurant owners don't seem to realize there's a whole population out here, the Old Guy included, who DO NOT go to a lot of bars and restaurants strictly because of the smoke. It's offensive.The last time I spent an evening in the Esquire (many months ago) I went home with a scratchy throat, a three-day cough and had to wash every item of clothing I had on to get rid of the cigarette stench. And I haven't been back. Probably won't be. That hurts business, too.

We're out here and we're customers. Or at least potential customers.

According to today's News-Gazette, many of the council members were surprised by Mayor Smokey's actions on this issue, but they probably should have seen it coming. Everything has its price. For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. (Learned that in high school physics). But there is no proof.

{Tom] Bruno, another longtime council member, said what was unusual was who handed out the sheet.
"It was unusual that the request was circulated by a council member who didn't want it to succeed," he said, referring to the mayor.
"I respect the fact that the mayor didn't want us to have a study session on the issue; he's been consistent about that," Bruno said. "But that made it awkward for him to circulate the request sheet."

And so it goes.